Friday, Sep. 05, 2008

Hanna leads Coast Guard to close coastal ports

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Officials are closing southern Atlantic ports as the area prepares for Tropical Storm Hanna.

The U.S. Coast Guard has closed the ports of Savannah and Brunswick to inbound vessels, with officials saying ports will be assessed after the storm has passed to determine whether it’s safe for traffic to resume.

In South Carolina, the State Ports Authority plans to close the Port of Charleston to land traffic at noon today. The Coast Guard has urged vessels and barges weighing more than 500 gross tons to leave as soon as possible.

And in North Carolina, the state Ports Authority says docks at Wilmington and Morehead City are also closing to commercial traffic at noon today, and all nonessential employees will be sent home.

The storm’s center was expected to make landfall along the Carolinas’ coastline early Saturday.

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