Florida Gov. Rick Scott holds a press conference in advance of Hurricane Irma on Wednesday September 6, 2017.
Broward County has ordered a mandatory evacuation for coastal areas ahead of Hurricane Irma, a Category 5 and the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever recorded. Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned Irma could bring “significant storm surge” as it nears Florida, repeating it is stronger than Hurricane Andrew and has the potential to “devastate our state.”
Andrew was the last Category 5 storm to hit the state 25 years ago and it brought devastation. Hurricane Irma has reached maximum sustained winds of 185 mph — with gusts topping 200 mph — and is located about 15 miles west of Saint Martin and Anguilla, moving west-northwest at 16 mph.
Evacuations pertain to people who live east of Federal Highway and on barrier islands. It begins at noon on Thursday.
In a press conference at the county Governmental Center in Fort Lauderdale, Mayor Barbara Sharief said the county will open 14 shelters for those in the evacuation zones. All other county operations will be closed.
Mayor Sharief urged residents leaving the evacuation areas to first try and take shelter with friends in safer areas. She also urged employers to give their employees enough time to prepare for the storm.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced that the county will begin to evacuate special needs residents on Wednesday and they likely will begin to evacuate residents from zones A and B on Thursday. Zone A covers a huge swath of coastal Miami-Dade County, including Key Biscayne, while zone B covers Miami Beach.
Miami-Dade County public schools will also be closed Thursday and Friday.
Gov. Scott announced that he has activated an additional 900 members of the Florida National Guard and, by Friday morning, another 6,000 National Guard members will be reporting for duty across the Sunshine State.
“Do not focus on the exact path of this storm,” Gov. Scott said. “A storm of this size could have effects statewide and everyone must be prepared.”
The most damning journalistic sin committed by the media during the era of Russia collusion…
The first ecological study finds mask mandates were not effective at slowing the spread of…
On "What Are the Odds?" Monday, Robert Barnes and Rich Baris note how big tech…
On "What Are the Odds?" Monday, Robert Barnes and Rich Baris discuss why America First…
Personal income fell $1,516.6 billion (7.1%) in February, roughly the consensus forecast, while consumer spending…
Research finds those previously infected by or vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 are not at risk of…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
For anyone looking for WATER!!!
(SHARE)
There is a convenience store called "BEACH FOOD STORE"
right across to where I live on, " Galt Ocean Mile". Fort Lauderdale Beach. (Broward)
I-95 to Oakland Park BLVD. all the way east to A1A, make a right on 35th (NICK"S ITALIAN PIZZA} then by the next stop sign you'll see the small shopping center. You can't miss it. The only convenience store there.
They still have WATER for sale and people are going crazy buying them, also, there are a few supplies lefts, like batteries and more. Here is their number. (954) 918-1950
Thanks Danik! Definitely good to know. Everyone should share. Even Gainesville, supplies are starting to run out.