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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — One problem with stocking up ahead of a hurricane is you never know exactly what you’ll need. Will the storm take out your power, your water — and for how long?
 
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The first busloads of Savannah-area evacuees are expected to arrive at Augusta shelters between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. today.
Augusta-Richmond County Emergency Management Agency was notified that Chatham County activated its evacuation assembly area and expected the first buses to depart for Augusta at noon, according to a city news release.
The city has an agreement with Chatham County to shelter up to 5,000 evacuees escaping danger from Hurricane Matthew.

INCHEON, South Korea — Australia’s Cameron Davis shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, with the winner Sunday getting a spot in the Masters Tournament next year at Augusta National.
The 21-year-old Davis, second behind China’s Jin Cheng last year in the rain-shortened tournament in Hong Kong, had eight birdies and a bogey at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club. Two weeks ago in Mexico, Davis led Australia to the World Amateur Team Championship and won the individual title.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal issued a mandatory evacuation Thursday east of Interstate 95 for six coastal counties in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew.
The six counties include: Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden.
The governor said he was acting on a recommendation from the state’s Emergency Operations Command in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew.
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AIKEN -- School may not be in session, but it didn’t take long for the parking lot at South Aiken High to fill up Thursday morning.
With Hurricane Matthew threatening the South Carolina coast, dozens of evacuees fled to Aiken County with hopes of finding shelter.
“It’s a very scary situation,” said Luis Orengo, who left Beaufort, S.C., with three children. “Where we live - we’re completely surrounded by water. I just hope that everything’s OK when we get home.”

 
Acting on a recommendation from the state’s Emergency Operations Command in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew, Gov. Nathan Deal today expanded a state of emergency to include 17 additional counties in the southeastern region of Georgia, including Burke and Screven.
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Authorities are investigating an incident in which six chickens were found dead Monday at an Augusta residence.
About 5:30 p.m., deputies responded to the 2500 block of Banbury Street, where a 60-year-old Augusta man returned home to find his chicken coop destroyed, six chickens killed and multiple windows to his shed broken. According to a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office incident report, the victim stated he saw two juveniles in his backyard the previous night but did not report it to law enforcement.

Hurricane Matthew has left school administrators with athletic events in the path of the storm scrambling to make adjustments to schedules. A determination for Georgia’s football game at South Carolina will come “hopefully in the next 24 hours,” UGA president Jere Morehead said Wednesday afternoon.
“At this point we remain hopeful that the game will be played at its normal time on Saturday evening,” Morehead said while at Georgia’s practice.

 
Area officials are gearing up for Hurricane Matthew evacuees after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley urged residents along the coast to leave.
Although any rain isn’t expected to hit the Augusta area until closer to the weekend, Aiken County is already in full prep mode for an anticipated large amount of people fleeing the coast.
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Defense attorneys representing the Hephzibah man accused of killing his parents and little brother in May 2013 anticipate seeking a finding that their client is incompetent to stand trial.
Ryan Jones, 29, has been held in jail without bond since his arrest in the deaths of Roosevelt and Edna Jones and his brother Russell Jones.
Jones, who turns 30 on Tuesday, has pleaded not guilty in Richmond County Superior Court. If convicted of murder, the prosecutor intends to seek a death sentence.