From CBS: Hurricane Dorian fast facts:
- As of 11 p.m. EDT Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Dorian was a Category 5 storm slamming the Bahamas.
- Forecasts say Dorian may spare the U.S. a direct hit, but will move close to Florida's east coast late Monday.
- States of emergency were in effect for all of Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, along with 12 counties in Georgia.
- Mandatory evacuations were underway in some parts of Florida.
- Evacuations in coastal South Carolina and Georgia will begin Monday.
Hurricane Dorian strengthened into a powerful Category 5 storm as it powered into the Bahamas Sunday. According to The Associated Press, Dorian tied the record for the most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever to come ashore in the Bahamas, equaling the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, before storms were named.
Storm surges there were raising water levels more than 20 feet above normal.
Its maximum sustained winds of 180 mph ripped off roofs, overturned cars and tore down power lines as hundreds hunkered down in schools, churches and shelters.
According to The Associated Press, "There was little information from the affected islands, though officials expected many residents to be left homeless. Most people went to shelters as the storm approached, with tourist hotels shutting down and residents boarding up their homes."
More than 20 million Americans could feel the storm's impact within a few days.
Preparations were underway for the massive storm along the Southeast U.S. seaboard.
Acting DHS chief Kevin McAleenan said Sunday that the storm could remain just off the U.S. mainland but still cause major problems with high wind speeds, a devastating storm surge and heavy rain.
As of 11 p.m. ET Sunday, Dorian's center was hovering over the eastern end of Grand Bahama island and about 135 miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was moving west at about 6 mph.
Follow live coverage of the storm below:
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