Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
STATE OF TERROR
36 million told to stay indoors 3 dead as winds of 135mph strike
HURRICANE Irma tore into Florida, yesterday, continuing its deadly rampage and adding three more victims to its increasing death toll.
The storm re-energised itself after it pounded Cuba the day before hitting mainland America with winds of up to 135mph and waves more than 25ft high battering the shoreline.
One and a half million people across America’s “Sunshine State” have been without power since Saturday night, as those who defied orders to evacuate cowered in their homes.
Irma, had increased back to a category 4 hurricane as it began its assault on the States and was so powerful it left police unable to respond to emergency calls due to the extreme danger it posed.
Officers warned Florida’s 36 million residents: “DO NOT venture out.”
Officials were forced to put in place 24-hour curfews to prevent loss of life, starting at 3pm yesterday, with fears large parts of the state could be hit with catastrophic flooding.
Miami also banned people from stepping outside to prevent looting. Ahead of Irma’s arrival at 7.20am, Florida Governor Rick Scott urged people to leave, prompting the largest evacuation in US history, with almost seven million people told to flee their homes.
More than 72,000 people moved into around 390 shelters across the state, the governor’s office reported.
Yesterday, Mr Scott said: “You can’t survive these storm surges.
“They’re going to have 130mph winds. They’re going to have 10 to 25 inches of rain and then, on top of that, the potential of 15 [ feet] of storm surge.
“They are getting pounded.”
One man was killed in Monroe County when he lost control of a vehicle he was
in while transporting a generator in anticipation of being without power.
Another two people died in a head-on crash in Hardee County, south-east of the city of Tampa.
Already, Irma has claimed more than 25 lives throughout the Caribbean during its week long journey of destruction.
First to feel its full force in America were the “remainers” who defied orders and stayed in the Florida Keys.
Key West business owner Jason Jonas said he didn’t leave because he’s in a home that is “built like a bunker”.
He said: “It’s pretty much the only reason I considered staying here because I knew that I had a pretty good chance of making it through this thing. We’re 30-plus feet above sea level and in a place that’s built to withstand 225mph winds.
“I mean that’s a better chance than being exposed out on the highway in traffic trying to make it to Georgia.”
At least 540,000 people have been told to evacuate from parts of Georgia, while the Florida Keys are expected to be cut off from the mainland by Irma.
As of 10am, the storm’s eye was moving away from the Keys as Fort Lauderdale was battered and, on Florida’s west coast, the city of Naples braced itself.
The National Weather Service warned residents being in the eye of a hurricane can lead to a false sense of security. It tweeted: “If winds go calm, you’re in the eye. Stay inside! Winds dramatically shift and will do so violently! STAY INSIDE.” The National Hurricane Center added. “This is a life-threatening situation. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.”
Last night, it downgraded Irma to a category 3, although this still means very powerful winds of 120mph
Monitoring the situation from Camp David, President Donald Trump urged people in the danger areas to heed the governor’s advice. Thousands of Brit tourists have been stranded in Florida, unable to leave the area after airports, including Orlando and Miami, were forced to close down. A meeting of the UK Government’s emergency Cobra committee took place yesterday after the Foreign Office said its ability to provide assistance to British citizens may be “extremely limited”.
Some 500 British troops have been deployed to the Caribbean, along with British police officers stationed in the British Virgin Islands, to restore law and order following reports of looting. Responding to criticism over the Government’s response to the disaster, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon pointed to a 16,000-tonne aid ship. He said: “Mounts Bay was not there by chance. We pre-positioned our ship there to help on the islands – she’s already been helping on the islands.”