JUPITER, Fla. – At least five people have died in the Abaco Islands in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said Monday evening. 

Hurricane Dorian continues to pound the region as a Category 4 storm.

Minnis said that there are also people in Great Bahama island in serious distress. Rescue crews will respond to calls for help as soon as weather conditions allow.

“We are in the midst of a historic tragedy,” Minnis said.

Historic Hurricane Dorian stalled over the northern Bahamas on Monday, pounding the islands with heavy rains, storm surge and howling winds before the storm directs its rage toward the U.S. coast.

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As of 8 p.m. EDT, Dorian’s advance westward along the archipelago slowed to a crawl while top sustained winds eased slightly to 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, causing Dorian to slip from a Category 5 to Category 4 – still a brutal storm.

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View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."
View images from the Spring City, a town located in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Spring City, located five miles south of Marsh Harbor Airport, was flattened by Hurricane Dorian on Sunday and Monday. These photos were taken by Spring City resident Brandisha Adderley, who lives in Spring City with her grandmother Monica Adderley. "We are all OK physically," Brandisha said. "Still winds and rain. Major flooding. Not a dry place to lay."

The hurricane will continue its assault on Grand Bahama Island into the night, the center said. Some areas could see up to 2 feet of rain, and storm surge could reach 23 feet, forecasters warned. Heavy rains capable of creating life-threatening flash floods over the northern part of the Bahamas are expected through Friday. 

Everyone there should remain sheltered and not venture into the eye, the center said Monday evening. 

Dramatic video: Hurricane Dorian’s devastating force in the Abaco Islands, Bahamas

Emergency responders were already overwhelmed.An estimated 13,000 homes have been destroyed, according to the Salvation Army, which has volunteers stationed in the group of islands.

Power and communications outages made damage assessment difficult. The few videos that have emerged from the Abaco Islands show destroyed homes, flooded roads and residents pleading for help and prayers. 

Florida and the U.S. East Coast remained a target. The storm will move “dangerously close” to the Florida east coast late Monday through Wednesday night, the center said. Dorian is forecast to turn toward the northwest, roaring parallel to Florida about 30 to 40 miles offshore, before continuing north along the East Coast deep into the week.

Dangerous surge and hurricane winds are expected on parts of Florida’s east coast and the coastal South Carolina and Georgia, the center said Monday evening. The risk of life-threatening surge in North Carolina continues to increase. 

Heavy rains that could cause flooding are expected in the lower Mid-Atlantic and the coastal Southeast of the United States through Friday as well.

That gap remains right on the edge of delivering the worst of Dorian to the Florida coastline. Center Director Ken Graham stressed that the state’s east coast will be dealing with wind, rain and storm surge as high as 7 feet through Wednesday.

“No matter the track, no matter the characteristics of the storm, the water’s coming, so please just everyone listen to the local officials,” Graham said. “Remember water can rise a lot earlier before the storm gets there. This is life and death.”

Weather concerns brought havoc to air travel on the busy Labor Day holiday as airlines canceled more than 1,100 Monday flights within, into or out of the United States, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency and was being briefed regularly about what he called a “monstrous” storm.

“I spoke with President Trump. He’s fully engaged in this,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference Monday. “He just reiterated that he’s going to provide any resources we need to weather Dorian.”

DeSantis said all coastal counties have issued evacuation orders, and 72 nursing homes have been evacuated. More than 4,000 members of the state National Guard have been called up, and power companies are prepared to dispatch 17,000 personnel to combat outages.

The hurricane center said wind gusts exceeded 220 mph when the storm made landfall in the Bahamas on Sunday afternoon. The winds matched the records set by the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, which tore through the Florida Keys, killing more than 400 people in the days before hurricanes were given names.

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Patty McKonly from Lancaster, Michigan, ties her boat down at the Pahokee Marina on Sunday, September, 1, 2019 in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian. She and her husband flew down to secure the boat and are flying back out of the way of the powerful storm. They are completing the great loop and Pahokee was their last stop. (Via OlyDrop)
Residents board up a storefront pharmacy as they prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian, in Bridgetown, Barbados, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019.
Residents stand in line at a grocery store as they prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian, in Bridgetown, Barbados, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019.
Storm clouds gather as Tropical Storm Dorian moves toward St. Michael Parish, Barbados, Monday, Aug. 26, 2019. Much of the eastern Caribbean island of Barbados shut down on Monday as Dorian approached the region and gathered strength, threatening to turn into a small hurricane that forecasters said could affect the northern Windward islands and Puerto Rico in upcoming days.
This satellite image obtained from NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES-East, shows Tropical Storm Dorian (in the lower part of the image) off South America as it approaches the Caribbean at 17:20Z on Aug.27, 2019. Tropical Storm Dorian intensified August 26, 2019 as it approached the Caribbean on a track that will take it near Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic by midweek, possibly at hurricane strength, US forecasters said. Although the storm was moving toward Cuba and Florida, forecasters said it could lose strength as it passes over mountainous terrain on Hispaniola, the Caribbean island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Jamie Rhome, storm surge specialist, seated, monitors the progress of Tropical Storm Dorian at the National Hurricane Center, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, in Miami.
A surfer takes advantage of the waves after the passing of Tropical Storm Dorian, in eastern Barbados, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019.
People move boats to a more secluded harbor for protection ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian in Boqueron, Puerto Rico on Aug. 27, 2019.
Jorge Ortiz works to tie down his roof as he prepares for the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian, in the Martín Peña neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019. The 50-year-old construction worker was taking no chances as Dorian approached Puerto Rico on Tuesday and threatened to brush past the island's southwest coast at near-hurricane strength.
YABUCOA, PUERTO RICO - AUGUST 28: Ya Mary Morales (L) and Henry Sustache put plywood over the windows of their home as they prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian on August 28, 2019 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. The Tropical Storm is expected to hit around 2pm this afternoon. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775397475 ORIG FILE ID: 1170712159
People gather at the coast hours before the storm enters in Patillas, Puerto Rico on, August 28, 2019. Tropical Storm Dorian bore down on Puerto Rico Wednesday as residents braced for a direct hit, the first since the island was ravaged two years ago by Hurricane Maria.
A handout graphic released by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the five-day forecast track of Tropical Storm Dorian over the Caribbean Sea. Dorian is projected to become a hurricane on its path over the Caribbean.
Workers prepare the building outside a store for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Humacao, Puerto Rico on, Aug.28, 2019.
Citizens stock up on gasoline a few hours before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, in Canovanas, Puerto Rico on Aug. 28, 2019.
Residents gather at the William Rivera Vocational School converted into a temporary shelter, before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, in Canovanas, Puerto Rico on Aug. 28, 2019.
Residents visit at the William Rivera Vocational School converted into a temporary shelter, before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, in Canovanas, Puerto Rico on Aug. 28, 2019.
Victor Ortiz Martinez, 79, is guided by Hector Guzman at the William Rivera Vocational School converted into a temporary shelter, before the arrival of Tropical Storm Dorian, in Canovanas, Puerto Rico on Aug. 28, 2019.
Men repair a generator in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico on Aug. 28, 2019, before Hurricane Dorian arrives.
A woman watches the see from the door of her home in El Negro, Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, on Aug. 28, 2019.
Zollo Azea puts shutters over the windows of his home as he prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian on Aug. 28, 2019, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.
Residents stock up on supplies before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, in Canovanas, Puerto Rico on Aug. 28, 2019.
Fort Pierce resident Bob McDaniel gets extra fuel for a power generator and his car at the Cumberland Farms store Aug. 29, 2019, on Hutchinson Island, Fla. McDaniel plans on riding out Hurricane Dorian at a safe house inland before returning to his home on the island, then using the gas for his generator after the storm.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Gary DAngelo (L) and central Florida residents wait on the line to buy propane in preparation for hurricane Dorian at BJ's store on August 29, 2019. The storm is expected to hit Florida as a possible category 4 hurricane over Labor Day weekend.
NASA teams, using the historic crawler-transporter, slowly move the mobile launcher from Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to pad 39B on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. The mobile launcher will eventually host the agency's Space Launch System rocket.
Barry Kowalik of Danville Kentucky, helps his father Frank Kowalik board up his home Aug. 29, 2019, in the Fairlane Harbor neighborhood of Vero Beach, Fla. in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian. “I’m glad to be able to be down here, he wouldn’t be able to do this by himself,” Barry Kowalik said. The pair were using metal panels for hurricane protection on Frank’s home along Indian River Boulevard. “It sucks, it’s going to be a biggie,” Frank Kowalik said.
CASSELBERRY, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Seminole County workers distribute sand bags to its residents in preparation for the hurricane Dorian on August 29, 2019 in Casselberry, Florida. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Dorian to strengthen into a Category 3 or greater storm as it heads towards Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775398295 ORIG FILE ID: 1170954387
Miami, Florida, residents stock up on groceries at a Costco on August 29, 2019, as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian. - Dorian was gathering strength on Thursday as it churned towards Florida, where it could make landfall as a powerful Category 4 storm. Florida's governor declared a state of emergency, warning residents on the east coast of the "Sunshine State" to prepare for a potentially major hurricane. (Photo by Michele Eve Sandberg / AFP)MICHELE EVE SANDBERG/AFP/Getty Images ORG XMIT: Florida p ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1JV09H
Kenny Thomas, left, and Jonathan Marotta of the Rhumcay Beach Resort & Island Grill in Fort Pierce, Fla, begin removing the outdoor furniture from the patio of the beachside restaurant on Aug. 29, 2019, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian. The staff has dozens of outdoor tables and benches to secure before the storm arrives.
Richard Henson, right, and his uncle, Peter Henson, prepare their grandmother’s house on Aug. 29, 2019, in Fort Pierce, Fla. for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian.
Crews place plywood on the windows of the Petco store in Viera, Fla. on Aug. 29, 2019, in preparation for Hurricane Dorian.
Well over 100 vehicles line up on Aug. 29, 2019, for free sandbags filled by trustees from the Brevard County Jail in the parking lot of Calvary Chapel, in Viera West, Fla. in preparation for arrival of Hurricane Dorian.
April Burson and her son Christian load up on plywood on Aug. 29, 2019, at a Lowe's Home Improvement store in Rockledge, Fla. in preparation for Hurricane Dorian.
Miami residents buy supplies at a hardware store as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian in Miami, Fla. on Aug. 30, 2019. Hurricane Dorian is expected to become category four hurricane by landfall on September 1 and 2.
Miami residents buy supplies at a hardware store as they prepare for Hurricane Dorian in Miami, Fla. on Aug. 30, 2019.
Shoppers wait in line to get two cases of bottled water —the limit per customer — at the Costco store in Altamonte Springs, Fla., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, as central Florida residents prepare for a possible strike by Hurricane Dorian.
A shopper leaves stocked up, including with a new generator and power fans, at the Costco store in Altamonte Springs, Fla., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, as central Florida residents prepare for a possible strike by Hurricane Dorian.
People walk to their boat through a flooded parking lot at the Haulover Marine Center before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian on Aug. 30, 2019 in Miami Beach, Fla. The high water was due to King tide which may cause additional problems as Hurricane Dorian arrives in the area as a possible Category 4 storm along the Florida coast.
Weston Rice drives through a flooded parking lot as he prepares to drop his jet ski into the water at the Haulover Marine Center before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian on Aug. 30, 2019 in Miami Beach.
Lisa Vance helps her husband Stephan go up the mast of their sailboat to do a repair in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at the Vero Beach City Marina in Vero Beach, Fla. The National Hurricane Center says Dorian could hit the Florida coast as a major hurricane early next week.
People line up to buy water at a store before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, in Freeport, Bahamas, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Forecasters said the hurricane is expected to keep on strengthening and become a Category 3 later in the day.
Workers cover stained glass windows with plywood sections at the Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in preparation for Hurricane Dorian Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Flagler Beach, Fla.
People wait in line at a U-Haul store to fill their propane tanks before the possible arrival of Hurricane Dorian on August 30, 2019 in Boynton Beach, Fla.
Empty shelves that held water are seen at a Winn Dixie store as people stock up before the possible arrival of Hurricane Dorian on August 30, 2019 in Boynton Beach, Fla.
Residents fill up gas cans for a generator in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, in Pembroke Pines, Fla on Aug. 30, 2019. Dorian was on a collision course with Florida on Friday as residents stocked up on food and water and battened down their homes to ride out the storm and others prepared to evacuate. Weather forecasters said Dorian, currently a Category 2 hurricane, could strengthen into a powerful Category 4 storm before it makes landfall but there was a great amount of uncertainty about where it would hit. Dorian is forecast to make landfall September 2.
Workers at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Florida, move an Allosaurus statue in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, on Aug. 30, 2019.
Joan Chang, center, gets help filling her bags during a sandbag giveaway in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, in Margate, Fla.
Hollywood Beach lifeguard Nelson Sarduy looks on from the tower on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 in Hollywood, Fla.
As worries continue about the impact of Hurricane Dorian, workers help a friend board up his apartment building on Aug. 31, 2019 in Fort Pierce, Florida. Dorian, once expected to make landfall near Fort Pierce as a category 4 storm , is currently expected to turn north and stay off of the Florida coast, lessening the impact on the area.
A sign on the door of the art gallery, Initially Yours, is posted in downtown Fort Pierce Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, as most businesses are closed in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, currently approaching Florida as a category 4 storm.
The workers were boarding up the doors on the Cocoa Beach Pier Saturday morning. Brevard County residents were busy Saturday preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian, its path still uncertain at this time.
People make sandbags at the cites municipal center as Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida, on Aug. 31, 2019 in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Dorian could be a Category 4 storm as it approaches the state and possibly making landfall as early as Monday somewhere along the east coast.
People install storm shutters the protect the windows at Cashway Motors in Cocoa, FL late Friday afternoon, Aug 30, 2017.
epa07810062 Female inmates from Brevard County Jail load free sandbags into the trunk of resident's car in Cocoa, Florida, USA, 01 September 2019. Hurricane Dorian, a powerful Category 5, is expected to strike the Bahamas on Sunday 01 September before passing to the east of Florida early next week. EPA-EFE/JIM LO SCALZO ORG XMIT: JJL01
A man stands on a store's roof as he works to prepare it for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Freeport on Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. Hurricane Dorian intensified yet again Sunday as it closed in on the northern Bahamas, threatening to batter islands with Category 5-strength winds, pounding waves and torrential rain. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) ORG XMIT: XRE101
Pahokee, Florida resident, Lorenzo Hunter shutters his home on Sunday, September, 1, 2019 in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian. He lives right next to Lake Okeechobee. He is says the path of Hurricane Dorian is in God's hands and will wait and see which path it takes before making a decision to evacuate. (Via OlyDrop)
Nick Blazensky and Kevin Barfield of Barfield Contracting and Associates create a sign pointing the way to their location in Cocoa, FL Saturday afternoon, Aug 31, 2019. The building company provided free plywood and water at its office to anyone who needed it. (Via OlyDrop)
Julian Rodriguez says a tearful goodbye to her mother, Martha Cedre, as she heads back to Puerto Rico. Martha stayed about a week longer to wait out Dorian in case it hit Puerto Rico, but now that the storm is coming to Florida she feels it's time to go home at Orlando International Airport on Sept. 1, 2019.
Davin and Sherry Ruohomaki install storm shutters at K9 Campus pet boarding facility in Melbourne, Fla on Sept. 2, 2019.
Utilities trucks head south on Interstate 95 towards a staging area in preparation for Hurricane Dorian near Melbourne, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019.
Health First's Cape Canaveral Hospital evacuate patients to three other facilities in in Viera, Melbourne, and Palm Bay, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019, before the arrival of Hurricane Dorian.
Dewayne Byrd and his wife Leslie load a new generator into their vehicle at Home Depot in West Melbourne, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019.
Sean Carnage and his daughter Alexa add another hurricane's name to their boards as they prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Melbourne, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019.
A handful of swimmers and surfers were in the water at Daytona Beach when the beach patrol began asking them to get out of the water on Sept. 2, 2019. A couple of people were slow to get out of the water and then found back in the water further down the beach. They were told to get out of the water or risk being arrested. One of them ended up being arrested. The Daytona Beach area has been put on mandatory evacuation.
Indira Mary Rambhacus, of Orlando, came to Daytona, Fla. to pray to Ganesha and ask for protection from Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 2, 2019.
David Braddock and his wife Kerrie Tyndall watch the waves from Hurricane Dorian at the Jupiter Beach Park in Jupiter, Fla. as the approaches the east coast of Florida on Sept. 2, 2019.
Stacey McKindles, a resident of Martin County Fla. gives Bob "Cowboy" Marschat a hug in thanks for watching a home of a family friend at Ocean Tide mobile home park in Riviera Beach, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019. Marschat says he wasn't leaving no matter what the path of Hurricane Dorian.
A couple walks past waves crashing on the pier in Cocoa Beach, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019.
Adam Modert, right, along with his wife Lindsey and four children, Isla, Maverick, Maximus and Tyde, sit on the boardwalk at Humiston Beach, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019, as large waves and surf come ashore ahead of Hurricane Dorian. The Modert's, of Fort Pierce, Fla. are staying at their home through the storm.
Adam Modert, right, along with his wife Lindsey and four children, Isla, Maverick, Maximus and Tyde, sit on the boardwalk at Humiston Beach, Fla. on Sept. 2, 2019, as large waves and surf come ashore ahead of Hurricane Dorian. The Modert’s, of Fort Pierce, Fla. are staying at their home through the storm.

Patrick Dove, Treasure Coast News via USA TODAY Network

“This is probably the saddest and worst day for me to address the Bahamian people,” Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said Sunday. “We are facing a hurricane that we have never seen in the Bahamas. Please pray for us.”

The only recorded storm that was more powerful was Hurricane Allen in 1980, with 190 mph winds, though it did not make landfall at that strength.

Dorian made landfall in Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas around noon Sunday, then made a second landfall near Marsh Harbor on Great Abaco at 2 p.m. The raging winds wrought destruction and terrified islanders who sought shelter in schools, churches and other facilities.

“It’s devastating,” said Joy Jibrilu, director general of the Bahamas’ Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. “There has been huge damage to property and infrastructure.”

Florida, Georgia, Carolina coasts

The storm was about 110 east of West Palm Beach, Florida. In Jupiter, 20 miles to the north, rain pelted Michael Schrimsher’s bright yellow slicker. Dorian-driven waves crashed into the Jupiter Beach Park jetty under gray skies.

“I think everybody’s a little worried,” Schrimsher said. “We have a concrete house. But this one’s a little scary.”

After rolling up along the Florida coast, the hurricane was forecast to track near the Georgia and Carolina coasts late this week.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered mandatory evacuation of his state’s entire coast effective Monday. The order covers about 830,000 people, and state troopers planned to make all lanes on major coastal highways one-way heading inland.

“We can’t make everybody happy, but we believe we can keep everyone alive,” McMaster said.

Labor Day flight cancellations: Hurricane Dorian approaches East Coast

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A few hours later, Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, ordered evacuations for that state’s Atlantic coast, also starting at midday Monday.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper warned his state that it could see heavy rain, winds and floods later in the week. Mandatory evacuations of visitors to North Carolina’s Outer Banks will begin Tuesday morning, according to government officials from Hyde and Dare counties. 

“The time to prepare is now,” Coooper warned. “North Carolina must take this seriously.”

Rodriguez and Bacon reported from McLean, Va.

Contributing: Morgan Hines, Dawn Gilbertson and Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY; Janine Zeitlin, Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Press; Amber Roberson, Tallahassee Democrat; Dan DeLuca, Treasure Coast Newspapers; The Associated Press