Scientists
started picking up background noise from the storm on
their earthquake-detecting seismometers as Irma strengthened into a
Category 5 storm on Tuesday.
Winds
causing trees to move and crashing ocean waves caused by Irma is what
made it possible for the earthquake detectors to pick up the storm.
Irma
is currently roaring toward the northeast Caribbean on a path that
could take it to the US - causing thousands to start panic buying and
preparing to evacuate in Florida.
The
U.S. National Hurricane Center said Irma had sustained winds of 185mph,
making it the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean
with fears that it could be worse than Hurricane Harvey.
President
Donald Trump on Tuesday declared emergencies in Florida, Puerto Rico
and the US Virgin Islands. Federal funding will therefore be available
for emergency measures including evacuations and coastal
fortifications.
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Hurricane Irma strengthened into a powerful Category 5 storm on Tuesday. Above, a satellite view of the storm on Tuesday
It's still
unclear where the storm will turn once it gets closer to the U.S. later
this week. It could go west into the Gulf of Mexico or east into the
Atlantic, or make landfall in Georgia, Florida or the Carolinas
Americans
in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are already stocking up on
supplies for the hurricane, which is expected to hit between Wednesday
and Thursday
Some people waited up to eight
hours to check in, shop and leave a Costco in North Miami on Tuesday in
preparation for Hurricane Irma
Four
other storms have had winds that strong in the overall Atlantic region,
but they have been in the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico where the
usually warmer waters fuel tropical cyclones.
Experts say Irma's strength is a result of unusually warm water for that part of the Atlantic.
The
center said there was a growing possibility that the storm's effects
could be felt in Florida later this week and over the weekend, though it
was still too early to be sure of its future track: 'Everyone in
hurricane-prone areas should ensure that they have their hurricane plan
in place.'
So far, a state of emergency
has been called in the state and a mandatory evacuation is under way in
the Florida Keys. Schools there are also cancelled until further
notice.
People in the Florida Keys were putting up hurricane shutters and wooden boards on homes and businesses on Tuesday.
Trucks
are currently hauling away boats and people are packing in preparation
for leaving. Houses in the Keys stand at sea level, with parts of the
main road to the Florida mainland going dangerously low.
In
addition to Irma, Tropical Storm Jose has now formed behind it in the
open Atlantic far from land. Jose is the 10th tropical storm of the
season. It has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is about 1505 miles
east of the Lesser Antilles.
Shoppers at Costco in North Miami waited up to eight hours for water and essentials in preparation for Hurricane Irma on Tuesday
Jackie Kreuter, 56, of Gulfport,
Florida, tosses pool furniture in his pool on Tuesday so it doesn't fly
around during the impending hurricane. Kreuter, along with her mother,
husband, sister, daughter, grandson, five dogs and a bird are boarding
up their home and business and leaving for Ocala to get out of Hurricane
Irma's way
Residents purchase water at BJ Wholesale in preparation for Hurricane Irma on Tuesday in Miami, Florida
Motorists head north on US Route 1 in Key Largo, Florida on Tuesday as Hurricane Irma moves its path in the northeast Caribbean
Vehicles line up to get fuel at a Tom Thumb gas station in Shalimar, Florida on Tuesday
Irma's
center was expected to move near or over the northern Leeward Islands
late Tuesday and early Wednesday, the hurricane center said. The eye was
then expected to pass about 50 miles from Puerto Rico late Wednesday.
Authorities
warned that the storm could dump up to 10 inches of rain, cause
landslides and flash floods and generate waves of up to 23 feet.
Government
officials began evacuations and urged people to finalize all
preparations as shelves emptied out across islands including Puerto
Rico.
'The decisions that we make in
the next couple of hours can make the difference between life and
death,' Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said. 'This is an extremely
dangerous storm.'
Residents
on the U.S. East Coast were urged to monitor the storm's progress in
case it should turn northward toward Florida, Georgia or the Carolinas.
'This
hurricane has the potential to be a major event for the East Coast. It
also has the potential to significantly strain FEMA and other
governmental resources occurring so quickly on the heels of (Hurricane)
Harvey,' Evan Myers, chief operating officer of AccuWeather, said in a
statement.
Florida
Governor Rick Scott declared the state of emergency for all 67 counties
in the state on Monday after some forecasts showed the powerful storm
could be headed for the East Coast.
'Hurricane
Irma is a major and life-threatening storm and Florida must be
prepared. I have continued to be briefed by the Florida Division of
Emergency Management on Hurricane Irma and current forecast models have
Florida in Irma's path - potentially impacting millions of Floridians,'
Scott said.
'Today, given these
forecasts and the intensity of this storm, I have declared a state of
emergency for every county in Florida to make certain that state,
federal and local governments are able to work together and make sure
resources are dispersed to local communities as we get prepared for this
storm.'
He also ordered the
suspension of road tolls across the state and activated 100 members of
the Florida National Guard to prepare for Hurricane Irma.
Scott
says in a statement that the initial 100 troops will be stationed
throughout the state. Some 7,000 National Guard members will report to
duty Friday, when the storm could be bearing down on Florida.
Cyber School Supply employee
Christopher Rodriguez installs wood panels on windows in preparation for
Hurricane Irma, in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico on Tuesday
John Pepper of Miami waits to
purchase plywood at Home Depot to cover his french doors in preparation
for Hurricane Irma on Monday
Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency on Monday for all 67 counties in his state
Scott says tolls will be suspended
to keep traffic flowing as residents begin to evacuate coastal areas in
the potential path of the dangerous Category 5 storm.
The governor adds that tolls will remain suspended 'for the duration of the storm's impacts to Florida.'
Meanwhile, Miami-Dade
County's mayor says residents and visitors should be prepared to
evacuate Miami Beach, as soon as Wednesday evening.
An NFL game to be played between the the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday has also been cancelled.
Water and basic foodstuffs are already flying off the shelves of some stores in Florida.
Pablo
Rodriguez surveyed the empty water aisle at a Fort Lauderdale Winn
Dixie with dismay, saying 'I was hoping to get a few cases.'
The 65-year-old said he would have to try other shops, because 'all the people are stocking up quick.'
Theresa
Webster, 60, of Fort Lauderdale had heard water was sold out at Publix
but still available at Winn Dixie, but there was none by the time she
got there in the afternoon.
She was also stocking up on canned tuna, crackers and bread.
Said Webster: 'I got some water already but I wanted more.'
As of Tuesday morning, Hurricane Irma was gathering speed to the east of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean
It's still unclear which
direction the storm will take as it inches close to the U.S. later this
week, but south Florida will no doubt feel some effects of the storm
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are expected to get severe rainfall from Irma
Hurricane warnings have been in effect for several Caribbean islands since Sunday
By mid-day Monday, many grocery
stores across South Florida had been emptied of bottled water and stores
were hoping to restock beginning Tuesday morning.
States
of emergency were also declared in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands where residents rushed to find last-minute supplies, forming
long lines outside supermarkets and gas stations.
People
in Puerto Rico braced for electricity outages after the director of the
island's power company predicted that storm damage could leave some
areas without electricity for four to six months. But 'some areas will
have power (back) in less than a week,' Ricardo Ramos told radio station
Notiuno 630 AM. The utility's infrastructure has deteriorated greatly
during a decade-long recession, and Puerto Ricans experienced an island
wide outage last year.
this could be the end of times better pray up GOD help us all thank u jesus
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