Hurricane Matthew is coming to Florida and is scheduled to make direct contact with the Atlantic Coast of Florida this week.
By Friday, Matthew, a Category 3 storm, will swing through the East Coast of Florida later this week. The storm has ravaged the Caribbean and is already being blamed for 11 deaths.
It’s not entirely certain the extent of the damage Matthew will cause in Florida, but the state isn’t taking any risks, with Gov. Rick Scott declaring a State of Emergency and mandatory evacuations ordered throughout the state.
Schools will closed, state offices will close, and many have stocked up on water, gas and other necessities in case of mass power outages.
The governor directed the Florida Department of Transportation to lift tolls where evacuations were ordered and activated the National Guard on Monday, directing members to be stationed in North, Central and South Florida so they can be mobilized to affected areas immediately.
Scott warned Floridians to take the storm very seriously since there wasn’t much time left to prepare.
“This is a dangerous storm and it is never too early to evacuate,” he said. “If you live in a low lying area, on a barrier island, or in an area prone to flooding, you need to make plans to leave now. Protecting life and moving people to safety remains our top priority and today I directed the Florida Department of Transportation to suspend tolls as needed to keep traffic flowing. If there is an evacuation order in a county, all tolls will be suspended in that county.”
Over 6,000 National Guard members are ready to be activated if needed and shelters were open today and tomorrow for special needs populations, pets and general populations.
The American Red Cross will open 97 shelters around the state for those evacuating their homes.
A tropical storm watch extended from the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys eastward and Florida Bay. A hurricane watch is in effect for the Flagler/Volusia County line north to the Florida/Georgia line.
The National Hurricane Center reports that Matthew has maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour and is moving Northwest at 12 miles per hour.
This will be the first time in over a decade that a major hurricane will make contact with Florida’s east coast. Florida has been virtually hurricane free for quite some time until this year. In September, Hurricane Hermine swept through the Big Bend area, causing extensive damage.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
