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Hurricane Dorian steers clear of Chesterfield County

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — As Dorian continues to lash the Carolina coast, Chesterfield County residents can breathe a little easier after not seeing much of an impact Thursday.

Chesterfield County officials declared a State of Emergency Wednesday to make sure they could respond quickly and even canceled school Thursday.

[WATCH LIVE: Cameras along the coast as Dorian approaches]

But the storm turning away from the coast slightly made all the difference.

Riverside Park was flooded and the Pee Dee River overflowed last year when Hurricane Florence left about 22 inches of rain in its path.

Thursday, Channel 9's South Carolina bureau reporter Greg Suskin watched people drive to the park to make sure the river wasn't rising again.

The initial forecast for the eastern portion of the county was up to three inches of rain and wind gusts of 40 mph, but dry air parked over the area helped keep Dorian's rain out.