UPDATE: Hurricane Dorian's New Path Spares Direct Landfall in Florida But Will Devastate Northwest Bahamas

Hurricane Dorian's path continues to shift as the category 4 storm is now moving westward over the Bahamas.

Updated forecast tracks indicate the storm will spare a direct hit on Florida, but most of the southern state remains in the cone of uncertainty.

The National Hurricane Center reports, “There’s been notable change overnight to the forecast of Dorian. It should be stressed that the new forecast track does not preclude Dorian making landfall on the Florida coast.”

CBN's Operation Blessing US Disaster Team has deployed to the Bahamas and the southeastern US to help with Dorian aftermath. Click Here to Help Operation Blessing Provide Relief to Victims of Disaster.

For the moment, the intensity of Hurricane Dorian is directed toward the Northwestern Bahamas.

Here are the Key Messages for 8/31 11 AM EDT/AST for Hurricane #Dorian. The next intermediate advisory is at 2 pm, followed by a complete advisory at 5 pm. pic.twitter.com/YasuxEDbR3

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 31, 2019

Significant impacts could occur even if the center of Dorian stays offshore. With the change in the forecast, the risk of strong winds and life-threatening storm surge is increasing along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina during the middle of next week.

Help Operation Blessing as it prepares to help those in the path of Hurricane Dorian. Click here. 

The center is getting real-time data from NOAA's hurricane hunters. "We have two planes flying 24-hour operations into, around, and into these hurricanes," says Lt. Conor Maginn with NOAA.

President Trump tweeted that he is monitoring the storm and receiving frequent briefings and updates. It is important to heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. This is an extremely dangerous storm, please prepare and be safe!

I am monitoring Hurricane Dorian and receiving frequent briefings and updates. It is important to heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. This is an extremely dangerous storm, please prepare and be safe! @FEMA @NWS @NOAA @Readygov @FLSERT https://t.co/Fee9EB1wQk

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 31, 2019

"Slow is never our friend. So, what that means is you'll have a longer period of time where you get those hurricane-force winds, a longer period of time that you can get the rainfall, torrential rainfall," says Ken Graham who directs the National Hurricane Center.

The center is getting real-time data from NOAA's hurricane hunters. "We have two planes flying 24-hour operations into, around, and into these hurricanes," says Lt. Conor Maginn with NOAA.

The president canceled his scheduled trip to Poland this weekend to monitor the storm. He assures Americans the federal government is pre-positioning and ready to respond.
       
"All indications are it's going to hit very hard and it's going to be very big," he adds in the video address he tweeted Thursday.

In Florida, it's a rush to board up and get supplies. Preparations are proving to be an exercise in patience as many store shelves are already empty and some gas stations already out of fuel.

"You never know. You have no idea what you're going to go through," says Florida resident Kris Abercrombie.

National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham explained the structure of the storm that is traveling with winds up to 150 mph.

 But, help is on the way as CBN's Operation Blessing US Disaster Team deployed to Central Florida on Friday.

A team of volunteers is taking a generator-powered shower trailer, a 35-foot truck full of food and disaster relief supplies, and a work order trailer with gear to serve impacted communities.

"We actually have supplies that volunteers can just show up with the shirts on their back and go out and serve the community," says Operation Blessing's Blake Mueller.

He's praying the storm turns away, but if it does hit, Operation Blessing is prepared to stay and serve impacted communities for months if needed.

"Our overall mission is to end human suffering down there in the disaster-related area, and how we do that is by setting distribution centers that have non- perishable items along with hygiene products and cleaning supplies to hand out to the community. Not only that, but we offer free, hot meals to the community," Mueller adds.

For so many, this holiday weekend will be used to prepare and brace for the worst.

CBN's Operation Blessing US Disaster Team has deployed to the Bahamas and the southeastern US to help with Dorian aftermath. Click Here to Help Operation Blessing Provide Relief to Victims of Disaster.