Volunteers from Long Island have already started to travel south to help with hurricane preparation efforts as Dorian approaches the area.

Red Cross volunteer Craig Cooper, from Smithtown, arrived in Charleston Wednesday. He sent News 12 photos of buildings boarded up and videos of water churning along the coast.

Cooper says around 9,000 people in the area have already received help from the Red Cross and community shelters.

New York state sent 34 water rescue personnel, including a team member from Long Island, to North Carolina Wednesday to be a part of the emergency response.

PSEG Long Island had already sent 50 linemen to Florida ahead of the storm to help out. The utility company says as Dorian skirted Florida, most have been called back to New York.

"Most of our crews are heading back, a couple of them haven't been released just yet, and may have them do some work in Georgia, but we think most of them will be back between today and tomorrow just in case we need them," said John O'Connell of PSEG Long Island.