STORM HITS U.S. CUBA & MEXICO
HOLIDAYMAKERS DEMAND ACTION AS MOST POWERFUL ATLANTIC STORM ON RECORD APPROACHES FLORIDA
Three monstrous hurricanes were last night threatening to cause unparalleled damage across the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and the United States.
Devastating Irma battered Cuba yesterday as it launched a terrifying assault on the island before heading towards Florida today.
Forecasters yesterday warned Hurricane Jose’s 150mph blasts could also rip through some of the defenceless communities already flattened by Irma a few days ago.
Hurricane Katia also hit Mexico while the country was struggling to deal with a major earthquake.
Cuba’s northern shore was savaged by deadly Irma, which defied weather experts’ predictions that it would not take a direct hit.
It left hundreds of holidaying Brits stranded, with several saying tour operators had not done enough to rescue them.
Irma made landfall on Friday night in the Camaguey Archipelago in Cuba, lashing the island’s northern coast with 160mph winds.
As satellite images of the hurricanes were released by Nasa, Cuba’s meteorological a genc y said t he gusts destroyed the instruments used to measure wind strength.
Waves as high as 23 feet were recorded, and bigger ones remained a possibil ity as Irma slowly made its way north-west.
Even before hitting Cuba, the hurricane had killed 24 people throughout the region while badly damaging entire islands.
About 10,000 British tourists are estimated to be in Florida, which i s br a c ing it s el f for Hur r icane Irma’s ar r ival today.
Irma has torn a destructive trail through several British territories, with the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla said to have borne the brunt of the damage.
About 500 British troops have been sent to aid the relief effort
The Ministry of Defence said the troops are made up of marines, engineers, medics and specialists, including Army and RAF personnel and about 100 will be deployed on the British Virgin Islands.
Holidaymakers have told of their f ights for sur v ival and thei r desperation to get back to the UK.
Tour operators have been accused of not doing enough to help while people of other nationalities have already been flown to safety.
Catherine Keith, from Aberdeen, hit out at Thomas Cook, accusing the firm of abandoning them.
The 26-year- old Millie’s Cookies shop worker was on a “holiday of a lifetime” with her parents but was left, she says, with scores of other holidaymakers to fend for themselves in Orlando, where Irma is expected to strike this afternoon.
Catherine said: “My dad is a type 2 diabetic and only has medication to last him until Sunday as you’re only allowed to take a certain amount of tablets with you.
“My parents’ friend is with us as well but Thomas Cook has just left us here. They refused to put on extra or emergency flights for those of us who have come from Scotland.
“All we wanted to do is come home early before the storm hits us.
“They have no clue what they’re doing and my family in Scotland have been trying to contact Thomas Cook in the UK and they are now not answering their phones.
“It’s all one big chaos over here at the moment.”
Joe Farrar, from Manchester, is on holiday in Varadero, Cuba, with his girlfriend Helen.
He told how he was meant to leave Cuba on Friday, but Thomas Cook delayed his flight.
Joe said Canadian tourists had been evacuated from the resort complex but Brits had been left at the hotel.
He said: “We’re a bit scared. We’ve been left in limbo. They told us that they’ll turn off the power when the storm hits. If it gets really bad, we have to get in the bathroom.
“The hotel staff have been brilliant to us. We are all right but there are a couple here who need medication and they’re running out. I’m sure we will be fine. We have crisps.”
Joe posted a video of the hurricane on Twitter, writing: “@ThomasCookCares still think the hurricane won’t pass here?”
The tour operators have increased the number of staff in the affected areas in bid to help customers and brought forward the time of flights returning to Britain yesterday.
A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: “The safety of our customers is always our first priority and we are closely monitoring the situation as it develops.
“Customers who are on package holidays with us and delayed due to the airport closure have had their accommodation extended until we
Leave. Not tonight, now. Once the storm hits, law enforcement can’t save you. We can’t do anything once the storm starts
can get them home. Customers who are on f light- only with us who are booked on cancelled f lights from Orlando will have their additional accommodation costs refunded on return to the UK.”
Yesterday, Florida’s governor wanted families to leave the state’s evacuation zones immediately.
Rick Scott made the plea during a press conference 24 hours before Irma – the strongest hurricane ever recorded – was due to arrive.
He told residents: “You will not survive the storm surge if you’re in an evacuation zone.
“Leave. Not tonight, right now. Once the storm hits, remember law enforcement can’t save you.
“We will do everything we can but we can’t do it once the storm starts.”
The National Hurricane Centre predicted that Irma was due to strike part of the Florida Keys early today. The Keys are a string of tropical islands
stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of the state and home to 73,000 people.
NHC spokesman Dennis Feltgen said: “This is a storm that will kill you if you don’t get out of the way.”
Miami was thrown a small lifeline when Irma changed direction but citizens there were warned the city would still face a battering.
However, the change of course put Tampa Bay firmly in the firing line. The area has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1921.
After the new forecast emerged, Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn said: “It’s not looking good for us.”
About 7000 National Guard troops have been drafted in to help deal with what lies ahead.
About 5.6million people have been evacuated in Florida and 550,000 also left Georgia, where the storm is expected to hit early tomorrow.
Yesterday, strong winds and rain began lashing southern Florida amid warnings of life-threatening storms and storm surge alerts.
On Fr iday, the storm was downgraded to Category 4 before powering back up to Category 5.
Experts said it would f luctuate between the two categories before weakening as it headed into Georgia and North and South Carolina.
Authorities in Florida have opened up shelters for those who have been forced to flee.
Already several areas have suffered power outages due to severe winds ahead of the hurricane.
Florida is the US’s third-largest state with nearly 21million people.
Parks including Universal Studios, Disney World, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have shut their doors until at least tomorrow.
Disney said it was the fifth time in their resorts’ history that they had closed since first opening in 1971.