UAE Embassy evacuates Florida of Emiratis before Hurricane Dorian

The Hurricane is scheduled to travel towards Florida next and skirt the southeastern coast of the US

Emiratis, GCC citizens and a UAE resident of Indian origin are received by Embassy officials after having been flown out of Florida ahead of Hurricane Dorian. Courtesy UAE Embassy US Twitter

At least 70 people, including Emiratis, GCC citizens and a UAE resident of Indian origin, were flown out of Florida by the UAE Embassy on Saturday in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian.

The Category 4 storm bore down on the Bahamas on Saturday with surging seas and winds of up to 240kph forcing some evacuations and hotel closures.

The hurricane is expected to travel towards Florida next and skirt the southeastern coast of the US. Even if it does not make direct US landfall, coastal states risk damaging winds and deadly flooding.

Most tourists who planned to leave the Bahamas got out before the main airport closed on Friday night.

On Saturday, the UAE Embassy in Washington DC chartered a plane from Miami to take dozens of people to safety.

The embassy also organised accommodation for the 70 evacuees, though it is unclear how long they will remain.

Earlier, the UAE consulate in New York City issued a warning to Emiratis living in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

It called on UAE citizens to monitor Hurricane Dorian closely  on local news and follow instructions of local emergency services.

"If you need further assistance, call the UAE Consulate General in New York [646] 630-2575 or the UAE Embassy at [202] 431-5530 or in case of emergency, please call 911." the consulate said on Twitter.

This satellite image obtained from NOAA/RAMMB, shows Tropical Storm Dorian as it approaching the Bahamas and Florida at 22:20UTC on August 31, 2019. Dorian changed course slightly on Saturday, possibly putting it on track to hit the Carolinas rather than Florida as previously forecast, after a dangerous blast through the Bahamas. Meteorologists said Dorian has grown into an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm as it heads toward land. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NOAA/RAMMB/HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / AFP / NOAA/RAMMB / HO / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NOAA/RAMMB/HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Tom Crane looks out over the beach as the threat of Hurricane Dorian looms, on August 31, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Dorian could be a Category 4 storm as it approaches the state and possibly making landfall as early as Monday somewhere along the east coast. Mark Wilson/Getty Images/AFP

Beaches are seen as the threat of as Hurricane Dorian remains offshore of Florida, on August 31, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Dorian could be a Category 4 storm as it approaches the state and possibly making landfall as early as Monday somewhere along the east coast. Mark Wilson/Getty Images/AFP

Shoppers grab supplies at a boarded-up strip mall in preparation for Hurricane Dorian on August 31, 2019 in Indialantic, Florida. Dorian, once expected to make landfall near Indialantic as a category 4 storm, is currently expected to turn north and stay off of the Florida coast, lessening the impact on the area. Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP

A beachgoer sits in a chair at Indialantic Beach on August 31, 2019 in Indialantic, Florida. Despite the holiday weekend, few people gathered at Indialantic Beach as the area hunkers down in preparation for Hurricane Dorian. Dorian, once expected to make landfall near Indialantic as a category 4 storm, is currently expected to turn north and stay off of the Florida coast, lessening the impact on the area. Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP

People prepare sand bags ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Dorian in Titusville, Florida, U.S. August 31, 2019. REUTERS/Marco Bello

People at a business in the Normandy area in Miami Beach, Fla., remove the plywoods used as shutters covering the front windows Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, as Hurricane Dorian's latest track shows the storm has shifted east and north, increasing the possibility that the storm would not make landfall in the state of Florida. (Pedro Portal/Miami Herald via AP)