'Pray for us': Hurricane Irma declared major disaster as it batters Florida Live updates
Hurricane Irma, declared a major disaster by President Donald Trump, has made landfall in southwestern Florida, bringing high winds, heavy rains and flooding. Irma has already caused death and widespread destruction in the Caribbean. More than a quarter of Florida’s population has been ordered to evacuate.
11 September 2017
00:25 GMT
The first images and reports are emerging from Florida Keys, which had been under a blanket evacuation order and was directly in the eye of Irma's fury Sunday. Juston Drake of Storm Riders posted photos of a road with asphalt peeled off, a destroyed car and fallen trees, saying that the “most extreme damage was from Sugarloaf Key to Marathon.”
The most extreme damage was from Sugarloaf Key to Marathon. The massive surge caused significant damage there, along with the winds. #Irma pic.twitter.com/mNRmt8Lh5j
— Juston Drake (@JustonStrmRider) September 11, 2017
- “We had to dig and crawl our way out. Had to use the axe and pick up large pieces of debris to clear a path over multiple stretches of Hwy 1,” he tweeted. With communications disrupted or non-existent, AP managed to get an SMS update on the situation from a Key Largo resident John Huston who decided to ride out the storm in his house. “100 mph gusts. Small boats floating down the street next to furniture and refrigerators. Very noisy. I got 4 cars all underwater n still 1.5 hrs till hi tide,” Huston texted.
- 10 September 2017
23:50 GMT
Hurricane Irma knocked out power to more than 3 million homes and businesses in Florida on Sunday and threatened millions more as it moved up the state's west coast, local electric utilities said.
Full restoration of service could take weeks, they added.
(Reuters)
- 23:32 GMT
23:07 GMT
Hurricane Irma’s eyewall, the location of the most extreme winds, is now passing above the city of Fort Myers. The hurricane continues to progress north up the Florida peninsula.
50G73KT @ Fort Myers KFMY; stronger bands reaching Tampa soon #HurricaneIrma #Irma #FLwx #FortMyers pic.twitter.com/LBJfNbDR9B
— Jeremy Smith (@WX_Overlord) September 10, 2017
23:05 GMT
Eye of Irma moving over Lee County now. Highest wind gusts measured so far at Southwest Florida International Airport of 89mph. #Irma #flwx pic.twitter.com/lFqCHaBySv
— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) September 10, 2017
22:59 GMT
Rainfall is pounding the west coast of Florida. Tide measurements near the city of Naples have shown a 7 foot increase in 90 minutes, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
“A NOAA tide gauge in Naples just measured a water level of 2.2 above mean higher high water, which is a 7 foot increase over the past hour and a half,” the NHC revealed in a statement at 6pm Florida time.
22:35 GMT
Florida’s Monroe County is off limits, according to the state highway patrol, at least until risk assessments on roads and bridges are carried out.
No residents or visitors are permitted access back into @monroecounty until an assessment of damage on roadways & bridges is complete.
— FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) September 10, 2017
22:01 GMT
#Irma continues to bring life-threatening surge, flooding rains, extreme winds, and the threat for tornadoes to ALL of FL. https://t.co/bnJMqhuYRH
— NWS (@NWS) September 10, 2017
#Irma continues to bring life-threatening surge, flooding rains, extreme winds, and the threat for tornadoes to ALL of FL. https://t.co/bnJMqhuYRH
— NWS (@NWS) September 10, 2017
21:45 GMT
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, US President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for Florida. The move will allow the Sunshine State to claim financial assistance from the federal government.
“For a period of 30 days from the start of the incident period, assistance for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, is authorized at 100 percent of the total eligible costs,” a White House statement read.
JUST IN: Trump approves disaster declaration for Florida as powerful Hurricane Irma pounds the state https://t.co/seRFrLQyiP pic.twitter.com/W2RXDjNQVR
— CNBC (@CNBC) September 10, 2017
21:43 GMT
The Federal Aviation Authority has listed equipment failures and shutdowns at Irma hit airports and US landing strips.
A list of current equipment failures and outages from @FAANews due to Hurricane #Irma. pic.twitter.com/gkf51DNNwc
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 10, 2017
Meanwhile, flight tracker reveals empty air space around Florida.
This is the current status of air space over Florida. Not a single plane in the area. #Irma #HurricaneIrmaTracking #Florida pic.twitter.com/LXtCsyU2cj
— Carlos Ortiz (@carlosodj) September 10, 2017
- Source : RT
