Three hospital patients from South Carolina have been transferred to a Georgia facility ahead of Hurricane Florence’s dangerous churn toward the Carolinas.

The patients were taken to WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital in Griffin, said hospital system spokewoman Nicole Gustin on Wednesday afternoon.

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Soon after she spoke to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gov. Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency for all of Georgia in light of the storm's possible trend southward.

The National Hurricane Center’s update that prompted Deal’s order doesn’t show category-4 contact with Georgia, but that possible remnants of the violent storm could come this way.

Get hourly Hurricane Florence updates here and see all storm coverage here.

Gustin said several hospitals throughout the state are readying to accept more patients if needed.

“At this time, no other patients are currently in route to a WellStar facility, but we remain ready to assist our colleagues in the path of the storm if asked to do so,” she said Wednesday about noon.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com