Millions told to flee Irma
PRESIDENT Donald Trump warned that America faced a disaster of historic proportions as thousands joined a mass exodus from Florida to escape Hurricane Irma yesterday with millions ordered to evacuate.
Irma has laid waste to a string of islands on its trail through the Caribbean, with a state of emergency declared in the British Virgin Islands and looting breaking out on St Martin. Mr Trump said: “This is a storm of absolutely historic destructive potential. Hurricane Irma is of epic proportion, perhaps bigger than we have ever seen. Be safe and get out of its way if possible.”
Irma was expected to make landfall in Florida tonight with sustained winds of 150mph. Officials in Florida have
ordered 5.6million people to evacuate leading to gridlock on major roads whiile 540,000 were told to leave the Georgia coast.
“This is a storm that will kill you if you don’t get out of the way,” said National Hurricane Center meteorologist and spokesman Dennis Feltgen.
Fights reportedly broke out as fuel supplies ran short, with many petrol stations running out. Those staying behind cleared shops of food, water, and wood to board up their homes. Rick Scott, Florida’s governor, said: “This is a catastrophic storm like our state has never seen. Look at the size of this storm. It is wider than our entire state.”
Roseanne Lesack, a motorist heading out of Florida with her family, said: “Right now we’re going about 20mph. It’s just three lanes of red bumper lights.” Manny Zuniga, taking his family, two dogs and pet ferret to Arkansas, said it took him 12 hours to travel 230 miles, three times as long as usual. He added: “We’re getting out of this state. Irma is going to take all of Florida.”
Mr Trump’s Mar-a-lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, was among the buildings ordered to be evacuated, while Florida’s major theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal and Seaworld, will remain closed throughout the weekend. Officials warned that if people telephoned emergency services during the storm “nobody will pick up”.
There were also fears for people living in 54,000 mobile homes in trailer parks across Florida, many of whom do not have cars and could not evacuate.
Mr Trump will be monitoring the arrival of the hurricane from Camp David, 60 miles north of Washington.
Tom Bossert, his homeland security adviser, issued a final warning for people to leave. He said: “There will come a point where you are on your own.”