Gulf Coast residents hunker down for Tropical Storm Hermine

Gulf Coast residents hunker down for Tropical Storm Hermine

(AP) — People on Florida's Gulf coast stocked up on supplies Thursday and some set out sandbags as they braced for Tropical Storm Hermine, which forecasters said could strike land as a hurricane.

[...] on the East Coast, a tropical storm warning was issued for an area extending from Marineland, Florida, northward to the South Santee River in South Carolina.

Georgia's governor declared a state of emergency for 56 counties through Saturday, in anticipation of high water and strong winds.

The Tallahassee Democrat (http://on.tdo.com/2c2jFxe ) reported that emergency management officials in Franklin County have issued a mandatory evacuation notice for people living on St. George Island, Dog Island, Alligator Point and Bald Point.

Big Bend residents were getting ready for possible storm surge and heavy rain.

In South Carolina, news outlets reported that high school football games in many areas will be played Thursday night because Hermine was expected to bring heavy rains to the state Friday.