Communities in Southern Florida are preparing for the potentially catastrophic effects of Hurricane Irma by issuing evacuation orders for residents and visitors, shutting down offices and schools, and opening shelters capable of keeping tens of thousands of residents safe.
As Irma slammed into the Caribbean on its way toward Puerto Rico, officials in several South Florida counties began to prepare for the potential landfall of a record-setting hurricane. While Irma’s projected path isn’t perfectly clear at this point, projections show an increasing possibility of it hitting southeastern Florida near Miami, and bringing potentially deadly winds to much of the southern portion of that American peninsula.
After hitting the US and Brittish Virgin Islans Wednesday, Irma was headed toward Puerto Rico, and is expected to bring with it maximum sustained winds reaching 185 miles per hour.
After impacting those islands, Irma is expected to continue westward, where it will potentially hit South Florida. Changing variables in the weather could also lead the hurricane to other portions the continental United States. Depending on how the next few days shape up the storm, the Carolinas could also see strong winds as a result of Irma.
“There is an increasing chance of seeing some impacts from Irma in the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys later this week and this weekend,” the National Hurricane Centre said Tuesday.
Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency for all 67 of the state’s counties, eyeing what would be projected to be a Category 4 hurricane if Irma makes landfall on his state.
“This storm has the potential to devastate our state, and we have to take it seriously,” Mr Scott said Wednesday during a news briefing.
Mr Scott urged Floridians to prepare sooner rather than later, and said that markets should be restocking their shelves Wednesday with vital supplies like water and non-perishables after reports surfaced indicating that shelves were empty. Mr Scott also made a call for volunteers, saying that “volunteers make a huge difference in these crises.”
"We can rebuild your home, but we cannot rebuild your life," Mr Scott said, urging residents to leave if they can and need to. "There's absolutely no reason for anyone not to evacuate if you ahve the means to do so."
Florida plans on asking 6,000 National Guard members to report for duty Friday, and has already called up 1,000 members. Emergency responders will have access to at least 13 helicopters, and more than 1,000 high water tactical vehicles, Mr Scott said. Volunteers are ready with the capacity to serve as many as 35,000 meals a day following the storm.
Counties that are most likely to be hit are taking matters further.
In Miami-Dade County, Mayor Carlos Giminez has signed a declaration of emergency, and ordered the evacuations of special-needs residents starting Wednesday. Depending on future forecasts, other evacuations may be ordered as well. Mr Giminez also closed all county offices and schools on Thursday and Friday.
In nearby Browad county, 43 shelters were opened that could house as many as 33,000 people starting Thursday. In Monroe County, the home of the popular tourist destination Key West, mandatory evacuations were issued for visitors starting Wednesday morning, and of residents Wednesday evening.
“It looks like it could be something that will be not good. Believe me, not good,” President Donald Trump, who owns a golf resort just north of Miami, said Wednesday in the Oval Office.
With news of the potentially catastrophic storm landfall, Floridians rushed to prepare themselves for the incoming storm, and posted pictures on social media showing long lines to fuel up vehicles, and empty shelves in markets where residents had rushed to stock up on supplies.
The potentially life threatening winds are expected to hit Florida on Saturday.
