Hurricane Isaias is currently moving through the Gulf as a category three hurricane. Major impacts are expected in Alabama and along the Florida panhandle. But, the Mississippi coast is still preparing for storm surge and wind.
Jeff Clark, with the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency, said westward of the storm they're expecting heavy rain and wind, with that wind moving in earlier than expected.
"We had originally thought were gonna come in later in the evening, like 7:00 or 8:00," Clark said. "That certainly moved up because the storm's moving so quickly, so we're gonna get tropical storm force winds earlier. That can create power outages."
He said that wind could reach 50 to 60 miles an hour and is urging folks to stay off the roads. As of early afternoon, water levels were already around two feet above normal levels around Harrison County.
Holly Bilbo with Hancock County Emergency Management says they're forecasting at least three to five feet of surge.
"It also said it could be up to seven feet," Bilbo said. "So all of our low-lying areas. We're expecting a lot of just street flooding, there's going to be a lot of impassable streets."
But, Bilbo says she doesn't foresee issues with Highway 90, Highway 603 or Highway 43.
Shelters have opened in parts of South Mississippi, per the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, including in Jackson County, closest to the storm's track.
"We do have people, citizens that are staying in both of the shelters that we have open currently," said Earl Etheridge, the county's emergency management director. "We're looking that maybe 40, 50 mile an hour winds later in the day tonight through the overnight hour up to about midnight with the winds diminishing."
"We're looking at minor storm surge of around three to four feet. Rainfall, probably one to two inches, which is not bad at all."
Tropical storm warnings are in place for all of Mississippi's coastal counties as well as counties along the state's east side, up as far north as Columbus. Counties just north of the coast, like George County, are prepping for wind and rain.
"We have one FEMA shelter open and staffed by Red Cross volunteers in the county" said emergency management deputy director Jeremy DeFatta. "We also have sandbags available in the County along the sand piles throughout the County."
MEMA has a list of shelters open on their website.