Do not shoot Irma, sheriff warns Floridians

MIAMI: It was a distinctly Floridian twist: a sheriff in the US state known for its love of guns warned residents not to shoot at Hurricane Irma after an online prank promoting the idea went viral.

“To clarify, DO NOT shoot weapons @ #Irma,” the office of the sheriff of Pasco County, on the state’s west coast, tweeted late Saturday as the storm made landfall.

“You won’t make it turn around & it will have very dangerous side effects” the message added, in reference to the unpredictable flight path shots fired may follow.

The idea started as a joke on Facebook, inspired by “a combination of stress and boredom,” Ryon Edwards, 22, of DeLand, Florida told the BBC.

As of Sunday afternoon some 54,000 people had marked themselves as “interested” in the event.

Many appeared to take the bizarre idea in the spirit Edwards seemed to intend, posting pictures of themselves in underwear or camouflage waving guns.

“On another note, I’ve learned that about 50% of the world could not understand sarcasm to save their lives.” — AFP

— AFP Hurricane Irma knocked down power lines, trees and ripped roofs off homes as it headed towards Florida.

— AP Whipped and lashed: Two men walking their bicycles along a street on the waterfront of Fort Lauderdale.

— P Sad fate: manatee l t str d in n , Flor r fr e r ba as Hurricane Irma approached.