Jekyll Island will move into Phase two of their re-entry plan, following Hurricane Matthew.
This second phase for Jekyll Island means that residents, homeowners, and businesses will be able to return to the island. Visitors are asked to allow residents and crew members time to complete storm clean up and restoration before visiting the island.
The Downing Musgrove Causeway bridge was deemed safe after evaluations. Crews have cleared 90% of debris from the storm , however, there are still power lines that drivers should look out for. No boil water advisory has been issued.The curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. remains in place.
St. Simons and Sea Islands are still closed to residents, and power restoration will not begin until Sunday in Glynn County after Hurricane Matthew sent a 500-year flood surge to coastal Georgia.
There were no deaths, but there was extensive damage and recovery will be slow.
"The last hurricane to have any impact of this magnitude was 1898," Commissioner Richard Strickland said. "People are going to be inconvenienced for a while, they will be without power ... but all in all, this community was very fortunate."
Saturday morning, nearly 270,000 customers in Coastal Georgia were without power.
Glynn County and the city of Brunswick said residents with proof of residency or employment in the are will be allowed re-entry, but power is out for the majority of homes and businesses. Officials said schools would be closed until Tuesday and the midnight to 5 a.m. curfew will remain in effect through Monday.
“I’m still in fear for my community. I don’t want anybody to get hurt. What we’re doing by opening the community up is -- we’re bringing people home, into a situation that they need to be very cognizant of. They need to be aware that it is not a safe environment," said Glynn County Emergency Management Director Jay Wiggins.
The entire county was ordered to evacuate Thursday. Those who stayed in Brunswick woke up Saturday to streets clogged with tree limbs, palm fronds and Spanish moss and downed power lines. Those who return were urged to use caution when moving around.
“There is such an emotional attachment to living here. It’s incredible. And, so, for these people to have to leave and vacate their home thinking that they may never see it again, was just a very emotional, emotional trip for a lot of these people," said Commissioner Dale Provenzano. “Honestly, I left our executive management command post, on my way home, thinking that that was the last time I’d ever see my house.”
Eddie Mobley rode out the storm in his house, feeling fairly confident that the structure, originally built in 1898, could withstand a storm. Mobley, who owns a general contracting business, said his crews boarded up about 20 homes before the storm and all have escaped without major damage. One house got some water in its basement on Friday afternoon as heavy rain and high tide affected the Brunswick area before Hurricane Matthew's arrival.
The Brunswick native did decide to sleep downstairs, though, after hearing several tree limbs pop from lots behind his house.
"It was a lot of wind and rain," he said. "But I didn't even have a single shingle off when I came outside this morning."
On other streets surrounding Mobley's house, large tree limbs remained on the streets and some power lines sagged or had broken. Barricades have been placed in some spots to keep people and vehicles away from the lines.
Republic Services ceased regularly scheduled trash pickup on Friday and Saturday. Trash pickup was scheduled to resume on Monday, but that might be pushed back.
Residents are encouraged to visit glynncounty.org for more information.
PHOTOS: Hurricane Matthew's wake of damage
Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick has evacuated all hospital patients and closed the emergency room at 7 a.m. Friday. It wasn't clear when they would be returned.
Management and staff successfully evacuated approximately 180 inpatients, and have treated and released all emergency room patients as appropriate. Patients’ family members and/or emergency contacts have been notified as transfer arrangements were made with receiving facilities in Georgia and Florida.
Red Cross opened two shelters for Glynn County residents at 1 p.m. in Waycross: Trinity United Methodist Church at 1005 Church Street and Waycross Middle School at 700 Central Avenue.
All government buildings, City of Brunswick and Glynn County, closed at noon on Thursday.
Glynn County court has been canceled Monday due to Hurricane Matthew. Court officials will continue to monitor the status of the county on a day by day basis.
A start time and date has not yet been set for the continuation of the trial of Justin Ross Harris -- a Georgia man charged with killing his toddler son by leaving the child inside a hot SUV.
Camden County
The Camden County Board of Commissioners issued a state of emergency due to Hurricane Matthew and called for a mandatory evacuation of the entire county. Officials announced Friday that a curfew would be in effect from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday.
On Saturday, Camden County Sheriff Jim Proctor extended the curfew for another day.
Residential yard debris only can be brought to the Old Still Road Yard Waste facility located half way down Old Still Road in Kingsland on the east side of the road. The landfill will be open with normal hours beginning Monday,.
County offices and courts were closed until further notice. All of Camden and Glynn counties were under an evacuation order, as is part of Brantley County as Hurricane Matthews approaches.
Cumberland Island National Seashore closed to visitors and sent staff home as of Tuesday morning. The tentative plan is to reopen Monday morning.
The St. Marys Community Based Outpatient Clinic VA facility was closed Thursday and Friday.
Boil water advisory in effect for Kingsland
For residents using city of Kingsland water, a boil-water advisory is in effect for all tap water prior to use for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing baby food.
Additional information can be found on the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website at www.gachd.org.
Brantley County
A mandatory evacuation order was issued east of U.S. 301 and a voluntary order was issued west of U.S. 301.