Hurricane Irma smashes into US – leaving death in its wake
At least 27 fatalities as millions flee homes for safety
THE WORST hurricane the mainland of the USA has witnessed in decades brought chaos to Florida as the number of lives claimed by the storm across the Caribbean rose to at least 27.
Hurricane Irma left more than 1.8 million homes and businesses without power and cities flooded after roaring into the mainland Sunshine State with a life-threatening storm surge last night.
The nearly 400-mile-wide storm had blown ashore on Sunday morning along the Florida Keys, which had been largely cleared, with some 116,000 people waiting it out in shelters.
More than six million people in Florida and Georgia had been urged to leave their homes as the hurricane loomed.
A storm surge warning was in place for the low-lying Florida Keys and Tampa Bay, with people urgently warned to stay away from the water. Water levels were expected to rise between 10-15ft in the areas at risk.
Irma was moving north at a speed of around 12mph, with maximum sustained winds near to 120mph. The hurricane’s forward reaches sent “embedded tornadoes” sweeping across southern districts.
Prime Minister Theresa May said work was taking place with US authorities to ensure British expats and tourists in Florida were protected as millions of locals and visitors flee to safety.
But the Foreign Office had also admitted that its ability to provide assistance to British citizens may be “extremely limited” and advised those affected to make their own contingency plans.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has pledged to be there “in the long term” for British people whose Caribbean homes have been devastated by the storm.
Irma has claimed at least 27 lives, including at least four in the British Virgin Islands and one each on Anguilla and Barbuda.
Thousands more people have been left homeless after the hurricane smashed into the region last week.
Brushing aside critics of the Government’s preparations, the Foreign Secretary said there had been an unprecedented effort from the UK to meet what had been an “unprecedented catastrophe in that part of the Caribbean”.
Mr Johnson said: “This is just the beginning. A terrible thing has happened to British overseas territories.
“These are British people and we are here for the long term and we will come through with a recovery plan working with our partners in the region.”
Mr Johnson said, in addition to the £32m already set aside following the disaster, the Government would be matching public donations to the Red Cross appeal.
Some 500 British troops have also been deployed, along with British police officers stationed in the British Virgin Islands, to restore law and order following reports of looting. Mr Johnson was providing updates from Sunday afternoon’s emergency Cobra meeting chaired by Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon.
Sir Michael said: “There has been a security issue there and that’s why we’re now prioritising getting armed troops in and police coming in behind them to strengthen the local police force.
“You can understand the island has been devastated; it’s been difficult for people to move around until you get helicopters there, but there are troops now there assisting the Governor to ensure law and order is maintained.”
HURRICANE IRMA brought chaos to the mainland of the USA last night as Britons in the historic storm’s path were being warned that their situation may “deteriorate significantly”.
Having battered the north coast of Cuba as a category three storm, deadly gusts approaching 130mph swept across the Florida Keys.
Parts of Miami were later underwater as more than one million homes were without power on Sunday despite the storm being downgraded again to category three.
The hurricane hit the Sunshine State with its forward reaches sending “embedded tornadoes” sweeping across southern parts.
Irma’s eyewall – a band of clouds surrounding the centre of the storm – reached the lowlying Keys island chain on Sunday morning, with the eye of the storm 15 miles southeast of Key West.
More than six million people in Florida and Georgia have been urged to leave their homes, while tens of thousands of people were huddling in shelters as the National Hurricane Centre warned the storm would bring 130 mph winds, torrential rain and storm surges of up to 15ft.
Florida governor Rick Scott called on anyone still in at-risk areas to follow evacuation orders, saying: “This is clearly a lifethreatening situation.”
“If you have been ordered to evacuate you need to leave now. This is your last chance to make a good decision,” he said on Saturday night. “Evacuation procedures are in place across the state, more than 6.5 million Floridians have been ordered to evacuate. Do not put yourself or your family’s life at risk.”
Monitoring the situation from Camp David, President Donald Trump urged people in the danger areas to heed the governor’s advice.
Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, said there were more than 125 British troops on the British Virgin Islands working with the local police, while more than 50 British police were on their way, after the storm had devastated the Caribbean.
The presence of the troops has had “a massive psychological effect” on morale on the islands, said Mr Johnson after an emergency Cobra committee meeting on Sunday.
Three planes were on their way to deliver crucial supplies to the region, he said, while the UK will be sending military operation to Anguilla, one of the first islands to be hit by Irma and receive aid, as soon as possible to ensure it “does not now slip behind”.
The Royal Navy ship RFA Mounts Bay, carrying engineers, marines and medics, delivered six tonnes of supplies to the British overseas territory and carried out repair work before moving on to the British Virgin Islands.
Responding to suggestions the UK response was not good or quick enough, Mr Johnson said: “Well I would say that’s completely wrong. RFA Mounts Bay was in the region for a specific need and... that is exactly the right type of boat to have in the region.
“Other countries actually now been asking us for help including the French, we’ve got three planes going out today, it’s an unprecedented effort by the UK to meet what has been an unprecedented catastrophe in that part of the Caribbean.
“But I’ve absolutely no doubt that we can face up to the challenge, we can deliver the help that those islanders need, we are seeing some signs of improvement, things are getting better on BVI, we’ve now got to make sure Anguilla gets the help it needs.”
Leave now. This is your last chance to make a good decision. Rick Scott, governor of Florida, warns any residents who have failed to flee Irma.