Daily Star

GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!

Killer megastorms set to flatten Florida

- By MARC WALKER marc.walker@dailystar.co.uk

THOUSANDS of Brits are getting ready to flee as Hurricane Irma closes in on Florida.

The state’s governor has warned that no-one will be safe when Irma hits.

To make it worse, Hurricane Jose – another Category Four megastorm – is also on its way.

This is a storm like our state has never seen

MILLIONS of people, including thousands of holidaying Brits, in the path of Hurricane Irma have been told to “get out now” and run for their lives.

The massive storm that has “pummelled” the Caribbean is now heading straight for Florida.

And the state’s governor, Rick Scott, warned last night: “We are running out of time – if you are in an evacuation zone, you need to go now.

“This is a catastroph­ic storm like our state has never seen.”

The deadly Category 4 storm, also set to flatten Cuba and the Bahamas over the weekend, is being followed by Hurricane Jose, which has been upgraded to the same threat level.

Both storms’ killer effects are expected to be “felt from coast to coast”, Mr Scott warned, with 20ft-high surges predicted around the northern Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Looting

President Donald Trump tweeted: “Hurricane Irma is of epic proportion, perhaps bigger than we have ever seen. Be safe and get out of its way, if possible.”

Meanwhile, fears grew last night for a missing UK family on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

Cayley Smit, husband Justin and children Lily and Rylan have not been heard from since Tuesday when the storm hit.

The tiny island suffered catastroph­ic damage and a two-year-old child was killed in the carnage.

At least 21 people are thought to have died in the Caribbean storms.

Brit Martin Lucas last night spoke of the “hell” left behind on the paradise isle of Saint Martin, where machete-wielding yobs are looting shops.

He said: “I have not been able to eat properly, drink properly or wash for four days now. The whole island has no power, water, toilet facilities. We have now got a breakdown in law and order.

“People with machetes are breaking into shops and apartments.”

Britain has pledged £32million to help the aid effort and a Royal Navy ship has been deployed to the Caribbean.

Downing Street yesterday hit back at claims the UK was slower to take care of its territorie­s compared to the response by France and Holland.

A spokeswoma­n for Prime Minister Theresa May said: “We believe that our response was swift. “We had a ship pre-positioned. We are getting life-saving aid now to those who need it.”

Buckingham Palace said the Queen would be making a significan­t personal donation to the British Red Cross Hurricane Irma appeal, which by last night had already raised about £42,000.

BRITAIN is facing a miserable washout weekend with heavy rain and 60mph winds.

Some areas are expected to be hit with 1.6 inches of rain – more than half the average for the whole of September.

Chaos for drivers and rail commuters is likely with surface water, gusts and tree falls.

The RAC’s Simon Williams warned of havoc on roads and said: “These pretty extreme conditions could make driving very hazardous.”

Football supporters travelling across the UK face treacherou­s conditions, while England cricket fans could be disappoint­ed again after rain hampered play yesterday at Lord’s.

In Dorset, pop fans at the Bestival festival and beachgoers in Bournemout­h were drenched.

Forecaster­s say there could be sunny intervals today but the rain is still expected to push into the north and west tomorrow.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? DEADLY: Map shows hurricanes heading for Florida where Miami beach is deserted. Below: Worried citizens fill sandbags while traffic backs up on Interstate 75 at the Florida Turnpike
DEADLY: Map shows hurricanes heading for Florida where Miami beach is deserted. Below: Worried citizens fill sandbags while traffic backs up on Interstate 75 at the Florida Turnpike
 ??  ?? DISASTER PATH: Hurricane Irma is hurtling towards Florida, ringed
DISASTER PATH: Hurricane Irma is hurtling towards Florida, ringed
 ??  ?? BLOWN AWAY: Bestival pop fan struggles with tent in yesterday’s gale
BLOWN AWAY: Bestival pop fan struggles with tent in yesterday’s gale
 ??  ?? WIND TRAP: Battling the elements in Brighton
WIND TRAP: Battling the elements in Brighton

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