ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Although cutting and lifting operations won’t begin until October, efforts to remove the capsized Golden Ray cargo ship are continuing, according to Unified Command. It’s been nearly a year since the Golden Ray capsized in the early morning of September 2019 in the St. Simons Sound. UC said it had to implement it s Heavy Weather Plan when Isaias threatened the Southeast Georgia coast, meaning equipment had to be moved and secured until the storm passed. We were prepared for Hurricane Isaias and are proud of the quick execution of our Heavy Weather Plan by our response personnel,” said Cmdr. The Unified Command said while hurricane season is a big concern, having the Golden Ray intact will minimize the impact to the St. Simons Sound.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. We were lucky, but Hurricane Isaias was a warm-up for Nassau County, according to Nassaus Emergency Management Director, Greg Foster. Director Foster says it is a good time to revisit what everyone should do to prepare for the next storm during this active hurricane season and the pandemic. Today Director Foster announced Nassau County Emergency Management will produce an hour-long Hurricane Preparedness Roundtable this Friday at 4 p.m. so that residents can have their questions about the pandemics impacts on actions taken before, during, and after a tropical cyclone. Panelists will include Nassau County Emergency Management Director, Greg Foster; Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, Al Sandrik, who previously worked for the National Hurricane Center; Nassau County Public Works Director, Doug Podiak; and Jeffrey Bunch with the Nassau County School District. Residents are invited to submit questions for any of the panelists beforehand to EOC.PublicInfo@NassauFLEM.com or via the comments section during the broadcast on www.facebook.com/NassauEM.

The Hurricane Center said it expected the storm to make landfall early Tuesday near southern North Carolina. Still, on this part of the South Carolina and North Carolina coasts that has been affected to varying degrees by seven tropical storms or hurricanes since 2014, residents weren't panicking. Up the coast in southern North Carolina, high winds from Isaias’ inner core knocked down trees and power lines, blocking roads. Wayne Stanley and his family came to the city over the weekend from Julian, North Carolina. Farther up the coast into North Carolina, the hurricane center predicted storm surges of 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) when Isaias moves onshore.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. Hurricane Isaias has made landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Hurricane Center said it expected the storm to make landfall early Tuesday near southern North Carolina. Still, on this part of the South Carolina and North Carolina coasts that has been affected to varying degrees by seven tropical storms or hurricanes since 2014, residents weren't panicking. Up the coast in southern North Carolina, high winds from Isaias inner core knocked down trees and power lines, blocking roads. Farther up the coast into North Carolina, the hurricane center predicted storm surges of 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) when Isaias moves onshore.

We will spend the afternoon in the mid 90s, topping out at 96°, feeling more like 100°. Highs Sunday will still be hot inland, in the 90s, but beaches will have highs in the 80s as winds build to between 15-25 mph. Winds Monday will become northwesterly, allowing for hot, offshore winds. Skies clear and daytime highs will “pop” into the mid 90s and feel-like highs into the low 100s. Tuesday through the end of the week looks hot, topping out in the mid 90s with good chances to see afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

A resident walks with containers filled with gasoline at Cooper's gas station before the arrival of Hurricane Isaias in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Friday, July 31, 2020. Authorities in North Carolina ordered the evacuation of Ocracoke Island, which was slammed by last years Hurricane Dorian, starting Saturday evening. The center of COVID-19 now is in Grand Bahama, the islands minister, Sen. Kwasi Thompson, told government-run ZNS Bahamas. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the area, and a watch means they are possible. For example, in Marion County, Florida, officials say people would be provided facial coverings if they have to go to shelters.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State-run COVID-19 testing sites along Florida’s Atlantic coast will be closed for the weekend and possibly through Tuesday depending on the track of Hurricane Isaias. Ron DeSantis doesn’t believe it will make a significant dent in overall testing. State testing sites will be closed in high-impact areas along the East Coast including Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Reminder: State-run @FLSERT COVID-19 testing sites are closed today due to now Hurricane Isaias. pic.twitter.com/1o3CnadOSZ — City of Jacksonville (COJ) (@CityofJax) July 31, 2020In the Jacksonville area, three COVID-19 testing sites will remain closed Friday through Tuesday as a result.

If it does we will respond and notify everybody as soon as possible,” Jacksonville Beach Mayor Charlie Latham said. “Just the regular stuff, you know, getting your groceries in making sure everything is picked up,” said Jacksonville resident Lashell Hartney. Typical Friday nightlife in Jacksonville BeachPeople were still out and about at restaurants Friday night in Jacksonville Beach, none of whom spoke to News4Jax felt threatened by Mother Nature. “It’s going to be here and gone in one day,” said R.J. Berger, a Jacksonville Beach resident. “I don’t think there is really much to worry about.”“If people pray, the storm will go a different way,” said Tatyana Bankratova, another Jax Beach resident.

Ron DeSantis issued state of emergency orders Friday for all counties on Florida’s Atlantic coast -- from the Keys to Nassau County -- as Hurricane Isaias drenched the Bahamas and remained on a track for at least a brush with Florida. “Our sites, because they’re outdoors with tents, if it were to get 40-, 50-mile-per-hour winds, it would just collapse,” he said. Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the county has 20 evacuation centers on standby that could be set up with COVID-19 safety measures. “We still don’t think there is a need to open shelters for this storm but they are ready,” he said. Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph on Friday and it was expected to remain a hurricane through Sunday as it moves north along or just off the Florida coast according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.

11 a.m. Friday Hurricane Isaias updatePublished: July 31, 2020, 11:36 amRebecca Barry's first look at the latest National Hurricane Center track of the storm.

New Hurricane Isaias kept on a path early Friday that’s expected continue on toward our country’s East Coast by the weekend. Isaias had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph Friday morning and was centered about 15 miles south-southwest of Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. Phonetically, it’s “ees-ah-EE-ahs.”There are different ways to pronounce Isaias, but for the sake of a named storm, the National Hurricane Center has informed meteorologists this pronunciation will be the standard. A hurricane warning was in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, including Andros Island, New Providence, Eleuthera, Abaco Islands, Berry Islands, Grand Bahama and Bimini. The National Hurricane Center was monitoring two other disturbances Friday morning, both over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.

Attorney General Ashley Moody added Hurricane Isaias to the states price-gouging hotline operations on Friday. If you see price gouging, report it to my office, Moody said in a video released by her office. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 19 counties as the storm churned toward Floridas Atlantic coast. State law prohibits excessive increases in the price of essential commodities --- such as food, water, hotel rooms, ice, gasoline and lumber --- during a state of emergency. The hotline is available using Moodys NO SCAM app or by calling 1-866-9NO-SCAM.

SAN JUAN Forecasters declared a hurricane warning for parts of the Florida coast Friday as Hurricane Isaias drenched the Bahamas on a track for the U.S. East Coast. Authorities in North Carolina ordered the evacuation of Oracoke Island, which was slammed by last years Hurricane Dorian, starting Saturday evening. Bahamas Power and Light Co. cut off power in certain areas for safety. A hurricane warning was in effect for northwest and central Bahamas. Isaias was expected to produce 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rain in the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. Camden County Schools said it is actively watching the track for Hurricane Isaias, which could be off Georgias coastline on Monday -- just as schools are set to reopen in the county. The district said it is partnering with the National Weather Service and the county emergency management agency to monitor Isaias, which was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane at midnight Friday. The storm was moving swiftly through the Caribbean on Friday and could pass by Camden County on Monday morning -- causing potential headaches just as the district is planning to reopen schools for in-person learning. In addition to sending out messages through SchoolMessenger, the district will also post updates on its website at www.camden.k12.ga.us and on the Camden County Schools Facebook page. To be included in the districts text alerts, text YES to 67587.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. With Hurricane Isaias expected to brush or skirt the Northeast Florida coastline this weekend, St. Johns County officials are beginning to take steps to prepare for any potential impacts. St. Johns County Emergency Management is closely monitoring Isaias and participating in conference calls with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, National Hurricane Center and NWS Jacksonville. SandbagsSt. Johns County is providing free sandbags at six locations throughout the county beginning Saturday. Beach driving restrictedBecause of the chance for extreme high tides and unpredictable ocean conditions, beach driving on all St. Johns County beaches will be restricted beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information regarding Hurricane Isaias, please call 904-824-5550.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Ahead of Hurricane Isaias arrival, Floridas attorney general has expanded the price-gouging hotline, which has been activated for the pandemic since March, to include storm supplies as well. Hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and household cleaning supplies were protected under the original order enacted in response to coronavirus, but now gas, food and water will be included, too. Attorney General Ashley Moody said her office has screened thousands of complaints from the pandemic and recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars. She said her office is up to the task of expanding its work. That is unique, but what is not unique is how the Florida Attorney Generals Office will respond and take those complaints, Moody said.

A state of emergency is in effect for Nassau County ahead of Hurricane Isaias, and the county said Friday a special needs shelter will be on standby in case of power outages. No evacuations are planned for the county, and any shelters throughout the hurricane season are meant to be a last resort because of COVID-19. Even though Nassau County is included in the Gov. Ron DeSantis state of emergency, County Director of Emergency Management Greg Foster said he is hopeful Nassaus impacts will be minimal. The director of the Nassau County Department of Health told the board before masks were mandatory, positive cases among those tested were close to 10%.

Due to the threat of Hurricane Isaias, Camden County Schools says it is delaying its school start date until Aug. 4, a day after it was originally scheduled to begin. According to a news release, the decision was out of an abundance of caution. Employees will still report to work on Aug. 3 for an additional day of pre-planning. The news release reads in part:While the impact of the hurricane on our county is expected to be minimal, delaying school for one day will allow our maintenance team members to survey our school properties to ensure they are free of debris and can safely reopen and school busses are able to safely access the more remote parts of our county.Camden County Schools says additional updates will be posted on its website and on the Camden County Schools Facebook page.