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Scott Taking No Chances, Declares State of Emergency in Advance of Hurricane Matthew

October 3, 2016 - 7:45pm
Mayor of Hialeah, Carlos Hernandez and Rick Scott
Mayor of Hialeah, Carlos Hernandez and Rick Scott

Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order Monday declaring a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida because of the impending approach of Hurricane Matthew.

According to the National Hurricane Center, later this week the Category 4 storm is expected to deliver Florida a side-glancing blow -- or worse -- as it thunders north up the Atlantic coast.

Said the Hurricane Center in its 5 p.m. Monday advisory, Matthew is southeast of Jamaica where it is likely to produce "devastating impacts from storm surge, extreme winds, heavy rains, flash floods, and/or mudslides in portions of the watch and warning areas in Haiti, Cuba, and the Bahamas" tonight and Tuesday.

Right now the hurricane's maximum sustained winds are 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Rainfall of up to 25 inches is forecast over the next two days across southern Haiti and parts of the southwestern Dominican Republic. As much as 12 inches of rain is expected in Cuba and parts of western Haiti, and up to 10 inches is forecast in eastern Jamaica.

Scott visited the City of Hialeah Emergency Operations Center today to meet with emergency management officials there.

The path and impacts on Florida are still uncertain as the big storm churns northwest. Scott said the declaration of emergency simply helps the state get set. 

"Hurricane Matthew is a life-threatening Category 4 hurricane and we must all take it seriously," the governor said in a prepared statement. "If Hurricane Matthew directly impacts Florida, there could be massive destruction which we haven't seen since Hurricane Andrew devastated Miami-Dade County in 1992. That is why we cannot delay and must prepare for direct impact now."

Added Scott, “Our National Guard stands ready to be deployed if needed. I am also in contact with the utilities across the state and will stay in communication with them regarding their plans if there are any power outages. We are taking steps to move additional fuel to the state’s east coast. On the Florida Turnpike, we also have extra fuel trucks on standby to get anywhere in our state. Again, while we are preparing for the worst, we are hoping for the best and will not take any chances with a storm of this magnitude.”

Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith

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