WARNING: STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA & GEORGIA, FLORIDA & PUERTO RICO

WARNING: STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA & GEORGIA, FLORIDA & PUERTO RICO

Hurricane Irma's path has shifted—and that path leads directly to South Carolina.

The state governor's response to the news was swift. In a series of three tweets Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency

        

Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in six coastal Georgia counties as Hurricane Irma menaced the Atlantic coast.

The governor’s emergency declaration included Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh counties. Deal also issued an executive order banning price gouging at the gas pumps and waiving transportation restrictions for drivers ferrying emergency supplies.

“We will continue monitoring Hurricane Irma’s path in the days ahead and coordinating with our federal, state and local partners,” said Deal. “I urge Georgians in the affected counties to remain vigilant and be prepared.”

The hurricane, a Category 5 storm with winds topping 185 miles an hour, is one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded. It walloped islands across the northeast Caribbean early Wednesday as it tracked toward Puerto Rico.