Weather forecasters predicted Charley would sweep close to the South Carolina coast late Friday and come ashore somewhere near Georgetown on Saturday. But it wasn't a "high confidence track" for a storm whose projected route already had shifted east from its original expected path, according to local weather officials.

Bonnie still was expected to cross into South Carolina from Georgia today and track northeast near Columbia. In the Lowcountry, forecasters were calling for gusty winds and 1 to 3 inches of rain from showers and thundershowers tonight. Local rainfall might be heavier, and there's a possibility some storms will be severe and spawn tornadoes.

Widespread flooding isn't expected from either storm, said Hal Austin, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Charleston.

Where Charley goes and how strong it will be depend largely on how long it stays over land in Florida on Friday and how hard it turns, said Robert Molleda, a National Hurricane Center forecaster. Once it clears Florida's Atlantic coast, the storm is expected to turn to the northeast and perhaps east of northeast.

"Every forecast aid we have is indicating it's going to make that turn," he said.

Bonnie, which was approaching hurricane strength Wednesday, is forecast to hit Florida early today, at least 12 hours earlier than Charley. The prospect of back-to-back storms prompted Gov. Jeb Bush to declare a state of emergency for all of Florida as schools and government offices announced closures and forecasters warned residents to prepare for the worst.

Getting hit by two named storms in a 24-hour period would be a first for Florida. In 2000, Tropical Storm Helene hit Pensacola less than a week after Tropical Storm Gordon hit Cedar Key.

The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for most of northwest Florida, from the Alabama border to the Suwannee River, because of Bonnie.

Charley prompted a hurricane watch for the Keys from Dry Tortugas to Ocean Reef, an area that includes Key West and Key Largo. Watches -- meaning conditions may develop for a hurricane within 36 hours -- also were issued for the southwestern Florida mainland from Flamingo to just north of Naples, and for Jamaica and western Cuba. A more urgent hurricane warning was issued for the Cayman Islands.

In the Keys, emergency officials told visitors to evacuate the entire 100-mile-long island chain. The trip can take several hours because there's only one road, the Overseas Highway, from Key West to Key Largo and only two linking Key Largo to the mainland. Residents were not being told to leave.

Closer to home, the area that includes Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties can expect breezy and possibly tropical storm force winds of 40 mph or more from Bonnie, Austin said. He expected the same sort of thunder-shower rainfall from Charley.

Both storms are expected to move through quickly; local officials have been told to expect a total of 3 to 5 inches of rain.

As of 11 p.m. Wednesday night, Bonnie packed maximum winds of 60 mph. Charley's winds were 75 mph, minimal hurricane strength.

Local emergency preparedness officials went on alert Wednesday but hadn't taken any action. School districts in Charleston, Berkeley, Colleton and Dorchester counties hadn't made plans to close schools or delay openings, but advised families to monitor the storms and check media reports, Web sites or regular phone information lines.

While major storm damage isn't expected, the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross recommended residents store items that can be blown by wind, such as hanging plants or lawn furniture, and in case power fails, stock up on items such as non-refrigerated food, flashlights and batteries, a three-day medication supply and extra cash.

"If the public has not gotten their emergency supplies, like emergency food and flashlights and water, this would probably be a good time to do it," said Cathy Haynes, Charleston County Emergency Preparedness deputy director. "What people need to do is review their family disaster plans, if they have one, or create plans if they do not."

Charleston Mayor Joe Riley met Wednesday afternoon with city department heads and key staff members to review disaster preparedness plans and took part in a conference call with the National Weather Service to hear what the city could be facing. "Neither of these are huge hurricanes, but both pose the threat of damage and destruction," Riley said.

The city didn't board up the windows of public buildings Wednesday, but the fire department was filling 1,000 sandbags and public works crews were checking flood-prone areas to make sure storm drains were clear of debris. Fire Chief Rusty Thomas said residents who want sandbags for potential flooding can collect them from the city at two locations: along Rutledge Avenue under Interstate 26 at Heriot Street and at Fire Station 11 in West Ashley along Highway 17 near Markfield Drive.

At Charleston Air Force Base, Tech Sgt. Ben Gonzales said the vice commander of the 437th Airlift Wing declared the base under Hurricane Condition 4 shortly before 2:20 p.m., the least severe of four hurricane warning conditions.

"We're already taking precautions for what needs to be done and what needs to be nailed down," Gonzales said. "We look at the facilities, make sure nothing is left outside and make sure there is a plan to take care of every single person and all of the equipment."

Bob Jones, director of public relations for the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross, said the organization is checking to see which of its volunteers are in town and keeping in touch with emergency management officials in several counties.

"Certainly the public needs to be watching closely," said Ken Harrell, Dorchester County Emergency Preparedness director.

Citing the potential for flooding and power outages, Amtrak suspended train service between New York and Miami. It will make a decision today on resuming operations for Friday.

Across the Lowcountry on Wednesday, life was going on as usual. The town of Kiawah Island still planned to hold its annual hurricane information session for residents Aug. 19 -- five days after Charley passes. The Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce, shooting footage for two planned television commercials promoting tourism, still planned to film a Lowcountry boil at Cypress Gardens on Friday. In St. George, as elsewhere, firefighters working in the neighborhoods didn't see anyone making extra preparations.

The rain and wind are not expected to disrupt construction of the new Cooper River bridge. An evacuation plan is in place but is not expected to be implemented because of the two approaching storms. If the forecast for the two storms changes to call for more than rain, bridge workers will lower crane booms, moor the project's 40 barges farther up the river and move hundreds of bridge plans and computers out of Charleston to higher ground.

Project officials last month secured the most sensitive portion of the uncompleted project when workers installed extra series of cables to the bottom side of the uncompleted roadway. The cables are designed to keep the cantilever roadway secured in high winds. With this cable tie-down system in place, the uncompleted bridge is able to withstand 73 mph winds.

STORM PREPARATION CHECKLIST

-- Stay alert to advisories, particularly if you live on a barrier island or in a mobile home. Evacuate if told to do so.

-- Make sure you have flashlights, plenty of batteries and a first aid kit.

-- Assemble enough nonperishable food and bottled water for three days, for each household member and pets.

-- Make arrangements for pets if you think you must evacuate. They are not allowed in most shelters.

-- Collect medicine and toiletries you may need for at least three days.

-- Fill your vehicle's tank with gasoline.

-- Anchor loose objects and hanging plants in the yard, or bring them inside. In high winds, yard objects can become projectiles.

-- Check gutters and shutters to make sure they are secure. Lock doors and windows.

-- Get cash. Bank machines could be closed temporarily by power outages.

-- Notify family and friends of plans. Keep the number of someone outside the area handy.

Source: The American Red Cross

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