Source: Twitter
Florida Governor Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane Irma
Source: Twitter
Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency for Florida, days before Hurricane Irma is set to make landfall.
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The governor made the announcement after the storm was upgraded to a Category 4 storm. The state of emergency was issued for all of Florida’s 67 counties.
Earlier on Monday, Scott went to Twitter to give residents of his state updates:
\u201cUse today to buy hurricane supplies and make sure disaster kits are ready. Be prepared for Hurricane Irma now. https://t.co/ymXjrTHewW https://t.co/RhIgh88tjf\u201d— Rick Scott (@Rick Scott) 1504555257
\u201cI urge all Floridians to remain vigilant and stay alert to local weather and news and visit https://t.co/J875UEWM16 today to get prepared.\u201d— Rick Scott (@Rick Scott) 1504562264
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Scott also released a statement about the storm. It's still unclear the path the storm will take, but Scott did not want to take any chances:
"In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best, and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared...This state of emergency allows our emergency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Floridians without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape."
The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, also declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. Landfall is expected early Wednesday on the island of Anguilla.
Officials say that the storm can potentially dump 10 inches of rain and generate waves of up to 23 feet as the storm draws closer. If Irma stays as a Category 4, it will be the first time in over a century two Category 4 hurricanes hit the United States.
SOURCE: CNN