Evacuation orders for six Georgia counties were lifted Thursday, according to Bryan County Emergency Services, after Hurricane Dorian passed the state's coast overnight Thursday and headed toward the Carolinas.
Residents of six counties east of I-95 had been under a mandatory evacuation order as the hurricane approached this week. They are now able to return home, Bryan County EMS Chief Freddy Howell said.
UPDATE: Gov. Kemp has confirmed he lifted the evacuations in a tweet:
Dorian passed along Georgia's coast overnight about 100 miles east of Savannah. Parts of the state where there was concern Dorian would wreak havoc, particularly on barrier islands such as Tybee, Jekyll and St. Simons, appeared to be largely spared by the hurricane.
Officials in Bryan County said there was "minimal damage" there and said the evacuation orders had been lifted by Gov. Brian Kemp.
"We're very lucky," Bryan County EMA Chief Freddy Howell said.
Officials in Glynn County - home to Brunswick, Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island - also said Thursday its evacuation order was lifted and the State of Emergency there was over.
"Assessment teams are being deployed to determine the damage to the community and will repair the damage as rapidly as possible," the county said. "Please be aware of your surroundings."
MORE DORIAN HEADLINES