More than one million people in the Carolinas have been given evacuation orders as Hurricane Florence threatens the coast of both states.
"This is a very dangerous hurricane. We do not want to risk one South Carolina life," said Gov. Henry McMaster.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Tuesday that a hurricane warning was issued from South Santee River, South Carolina, to Duck, North Carolina, and the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.
A tropical storm watch was issued from north of the North Carolina-Virginia border to Cape Charles Light, Virginia, and for the Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort.
A storm surge warning and hurricane watch were in effect for Bertie, Chowan, and Perquimans counties.
At 5 p.m. Tuesday, several North Carolina counties were under evacuations orders. Some of the evacuations are voluntary, but state officials encourage everyone to head inland before the storm reaches the coast.
To protect the Palmetto State, McMaster issued a mandatory evacuation order for coastal counties ahead of Hurricane Florence. With that came four major road reversals starting Tuesday -- including I-26 from Charleston to Columbia and Highway 501 leaving Myrtle Beach.
"There will be about a million people leaving the coast trying to escape this big hurricane," said McMaster.
AAA reported gas prices are expected to spike as Florence inches closer to the Carolinas.
"I do think more people are being prepared and more proactive," said AAA spokesperson Tiffany Wright.
The potentially historic hurricane is already making a big impact days before making landfall. American Airlines is offering waivers for anyone who needs to rebook a flight. The alert covers 25 airports including Charlotte Douglas.
The waiver waves change flight fees for anyone with upcoming travel plans impacted by Hurricane Florence or Olivia. Southwest Airlines' alert covers six airports.
"This one scares me," said Reggie Girard, a traveler.
