After wreaking havoc in Hati and the Carribean, Hurricane Matthew has made its way to Florida, with lawmakers pleading with residents to evacuate.
The New York Times reports the Category 4 storm is expected to bring torrential rains and winds of 140 miles per hour to the state. The news prompted President Barack Obama to declared a state of emergency, allowing the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to issue relief in significant areas. Governor Rick Scott activated 3,500 National Guard troops for rescue operations and urged residents who have decided to stay home to evacuate immediately.
“We are already starting to see the impacts, and it’s a monster,” he said the state’s 1.5 million residents. Currently, the storm has made its way to Central and South Florida. “If you are Brevard County or north, and in an evacuation zone, you still have time to leave. Get out. If you’re reluctant to evacuate, just think of all the people the storm has already killed.”
The core of the storm is predicted to hit Cape Canaveral Friday morning and head towards Jacksonville at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, The Weather Channel reports up to 24,000 customers in the Palm Beach area have lost power. Florida Power and Light is also expecting 2.5 million outages due to the storm. Flights coming in and out of the Miami International and Palm Beach Airports have been delayed or canceled. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is closed.
Stay safe by checking out these helpful storm preparation checklists.