Traffic stacks up on Interstate 75 north in Georgia on Thursday as people flee the coast and Hurricane Matthew. Jim Butterworth, director at the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, said he expected the storm to arrive in coastal Georgia late Friday and continue through Saturday night.

People stand on the pier in St. Augustine, Fla., as waves whipped up by Hurricane Matthew crash below Thursday.

Clouds cover the sky over the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and Pier before the arrival of Hurricane Matthew on Thursday.

Swimmers wade into high surf in Daytona Beach, Fla., churned up by Hurricane Matthew on Thursday.

Palm trees sway in gusts of wind Thursday in Vero Beach, Fla., as Hurricane Matthew make its way to Florida's east coast from the Bahamas.

A lifeguard patrols the beach Thursday under dark skies in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

Two men run for cover as rain from Hurricane Matthew begins to fall Thursday in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

Employees of Deerfield Beach Environmental Services fill sandbags for residents on Thursday in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The city distributed sandbags to residents in preparation for Hurricane Matthew.

Children walk around a gas station that is boarded up in preparation for Hurricane Matthew on Sullivan's Island, S.C., on Thursday. All schools are closed around the Charleston area for Hurricane Matthew.

With supplies for power outage response, power crews with Pike Electric from all over the United States including Texas, Georgia and North Carolina wait to be called out as needed in Pembroke Pines, Fla., on Thursday.

Miroslava Roznovjakova and Ray Hayyat place sandbags in front of their store to guard against flooding in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday. Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Michael Blackman, left, and Sam Titus board up a bar a few blocks from the beach Thursday in Daytona Beach, Fla. The bar is planning on staying open during Hurricane Matthew.

Families, with their bags packed, arrive to be checked into the shelter at North Charleston High School in North Charleston, S.C., on Thursday in advance of Hurricane Matthew.

People settle in at the shelter at Boynton Beach Community High School as Hurricane Matthew makes its way toward South Florida on Thursday.

A person walks along the beach Thursday in Miami Beach, Florida, ahead of Hurricane Matthew's arrival. Javier Galeano/Reuters