Hurricane Dorian shifts toward the Carolinas and Georgia; Florida may be spared a direct hit

Hurricane Dorian fast facts:

• New forecasts say Dorian may spare Florida from a direct hit and make landfall over South Carolina on Wednesday or Thursday.
• State of emergencies are in effect for the entire states of Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, along with 12 counties in Georgia.
• Mandatory evacuations are underway as the storm bears down on the Bahamas.
  

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Hurricane Dorian, which strengthened to a Category 4 storm, is packing maximum sustained winds of 150 mph with higher gusts. More than 20 million Americans could feel the storm's impact.

Preparations are under way to prepare for the massive storm. Hurricane conditions are expected in the Bahamas by Sunday. Storm surges there could raise water levels 15-feet above normal.

As of 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Dorian's center was some 170 miles east of Great Abaco in the Bahamas and about 355 miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm is moving west at about 8 mph.

Follow live coverage of the storm below.

Tropical Storm Watch issued for parts of Florida

The National Hurricane Center on Saturday at 5 p.m. issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Florida's east coast, from Deerfield Beach to Sebastian Inlet. "Additional watches may be required for portions of the east coast of Florida tonight or Sunday," the NHC noted in an advisory.

Hurricane Dorian is expected to continue to impact Florida's east coast, moving closer to the state "late Monday through Tuesday," according to the NHC, bringing potentially dangerous swells with intense surf and rip current conditions.

Pets evacuated from South Carolina coast are up for adoption

Officials at a northern South Carolina humane society say hundreds of pets are up for adoption after being evacuated from facilities along the coast, CBS affiliate WSPA reported. The Greenville Humane Society now has more than 200 animals up for adoption and officials said they're in need of volunteers.

"Its very hard on our staff and our staff absolutely love these animals and it can be stressful for the animals as well," said Rachel Delport, who works at the center in Greenville.

Trump meets with FEMA officials at Camp David

President Trump on Saturday met with FEMA officials at Camp David to discuss the response to Hurricane Dorian. Mr. Trump canceled a weekend visit to Poland to plan for the potentially catastrophic storm that could affect more than 20 million Americans.

Mr. Trump briefly left Camp David to visit Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, on Saturday morning, according to pool reports. He returned to the presidential retreat Saturday afternoon.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the president has been briefed hourly on the storm and that he "participated in several phone calls." When asked about a video posted by The Hill claiming to show Mr. Trump golfing, Grisham said, "I have no idea what that video is."

Mr. Trump on Saturday retweeted several tweets by the National Hurricane Center, FEMA and the American Red Cross providing information about the storm. He also warned in a tweet that South Carolina "could get hit MUCH harder than first thought."

Evacuations begin in Bahamas

Authorities in the Bahamas evacuated residents in the northern shore and low-lying islands Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Forecasters expect the storm to hit the Bahamas on Sunday before curving outward.

Tourists in the Bahamas were sent to shelters in churches, schools and other buildings for protection, the AP reported. On Friday, Prime Minister Hubert Minnis advised those still on the islands not to brave out the storm.

"Do not be foolish and try to brave out this hurricane," Minnis said at a news conference. "The price you may pay for not evacuating is your life."

The storm could bring life-threatening levels of storm surge of up to 15 feet above normal tide levels in Great Abaco and Grand Bahama, the National Hurricane Center said.

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South Carolina declares state of emergency

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency on Saturday to prepare for the storm. "Given the strength and unpredictability of the storm, we must prepare for every possible scenario," McMaster in a statement.

"State assets are being mobilized now and Team South Carolina is working around the clock to be ready, if necessary," he added. "We encourage all South Carolinians who may be impacted by Hurricane Dorian to be vigilant and prepare now - there is no reason for delay."

McMaster said the state's Emergency Management Division is monitoring the storm.

When will Dorian make landfall?

New forecasts say Dorian could spare Florida from a direct hit, but still bring life-threatening storm surge and winds to coastal communities. The storm is now expected to make landfall over North and South Carolina on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

Meet NOAA's first all-female hurricane hunting crew

While Hurricane Dorian makes its way toward the Florida coast, not everyone is fleeing the fierce storm. Commander Rebecca Waddington, Lieutenant Lindsey Norman and Captain Kristie Twining flew into the eye of the storm this week.

Their hurricane hunter aircraft collects data for NOAA, which helps forecasters predict where the storm is heading next. But their flight Thursday was historic. It was the first time in NOAA's history that a Hurricane Hunter's flight crew was comprised of all women.

"There are more women getting interested in flying and it's also fun to have that camaraderie because to be honest it's been a male-dominated field," Captain Kristie Twining said.

Twining hopes they will inspire a new generation of female pilots.

"To let them know this is something that is certainly a possibility for them and they don't have to feel intimidated or in anyway think that they cannot do it," Twining said.

"People think you're a little bit nuts, but when you tell him why we're going out and doing this, going out and collecting all of this really important data, then people are usually really grateful for what you're doing," Norman said

More than 560 price gouging complaints in Florida

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said her office received 568 complaints over alleged price gouging on Friday morning. Nearly half came through the new app Florida No Scam, and the rest from the traditional hotline, CBS Miami reported.

Moody said the majority of complaints were about gas and water. Some companies, she said, weren't as cooperative as they should have been when contacted by investigators.

"Gas stations need be aware we are following this closely. We got some reports that some had increased prices overnight. I can tell you that in trying to be proactive about that, some have not been cooperative. In fact insisted in order to do something about that, we may need to send someone with a badge, which I will oblige," Moody said.

Under Florida law, when there is a state of emergency, which has now been declared in all 67 counties, companies can not raise prices higher than the average price over the last 30 days unless then can prove their costs increased.

If you see what you believe is price gouging the number to call is 866-966-7226 or 866-9-NOSCAM.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has also opened her price gouging hotline. The number for Miami-Dade is 305-547-3300. As of Friday afternoon, that hotline received about 75 calls.

Delta Airlines adds seat ahead of Dorian's landfall

Delta Airlines announced it was adding 7,693 extra seats to accommodate travelers looking to depart from "cities along the Southeast coast from Brunswick, Georgia down across most of Florida."

"Additionally, Delta issued a temporary baggage and pet in cabin fee waiver, and restrictions on unaccompanied minor travel along with adding six additional flights between Atlanta and Florida for Friday," Delta said in a statement.

Delta also broadened its waiver program to include Key West, Florida and extended its Bahamas travel waiver to Tuesday, meaning customers in Key West can change their departing flights at no extra charge; customers in the Bahamas have until Tuesday to do so.

Other airlines have offered similar services, including Southwest Airlines and American Airlines

Brevard County issues mandatory evacuations

Brevard County, located on Florida's east coast that includes Kennedy Space Center, has issued mandatory evacuation orders for some parts of the county. Shelter details are still being finalized.

In a Facebook post, county officials said the following residents should start evacuating Sunday at 8 a.m.:

• Those who live on the barrier islands, including areas from Kennedy Space Center south to the south beaches and Merritt Island.
• Those in mobile homes or manufactured housing.
• Those in low-lying, flood-prone areas.
• Those with special medical needs such as electrical dependence.

To determine if your address is under mandatory evacuation, go to the map here and plug in the address.

Dorian could knock out power for millions in Florida

Eric Silagy, president and CEO of Florida Power & Light, the state's largest utility, said the hurricane will require rebuilding parts of the electric grid, resulting in restoration efforts that could be "extensive," CBS Miami and the Associated Press reported.

Silagy said he believes the utility is ready for the storm. He toured the company's command center in West Palm Beach with Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday.

"There will be power outages from the storm," Silagy said. "There is no doubt that if the storm comes on with the kind of power that is currently predicted there will be significant outages."

Wildlife center finds foster homes for 400 animals

The South Florida Wildlife Center is in hurricane prep mode. The center is finding foster homes for more than 400 animal patients in its care or releasing them back into the wild before Dorian makes landfall, according to CBS Miami.

The South Florida Wildlife Center is a not-for-profit organization that treats injured and orphaned animals -- everything from ducks to owls, squirrels and more.

When Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation Dr. Renata Schneider arrived at work Friday morning, there were 411 animals on the property, but that number is a little smaller now.

"We have actively been releasing anything that was release-ready or very close to being released because animals have an amazing instinct of what to do in the wild and they are safer being free, than stuck in a cage but by the end of the day, if you haven't been released then you are definitely going into foster care," said Dr. Schneider.

More than 300 active volunteers will take home the remaining animals and care for them during the storm.

If you find an animal in need of help, the Center asks that you make sure it is open and able receive patients before bringing orphaned or injured wildlife to the Center. Click here for more information about the South Florida Wildlife Center in Fort Lauderdale.

-- CBS Miami's Lisa Petrillo reports from Fort Lauderdale.