By Jeanette Smith
ABC news reported that 1 million households and businesses are without power in the Florida Keys. Additionally, three people have been killed. The carnage was created when Hurricane Irma hit South Florida.
Governor Rick Scott stated that the Florida Keys were crushed by the hurricane. Scott issued the statement on ABC News during an interview with George Stephanopoulos.
The governor stated that the Florida Keys will have 10 to 25 inches of rainfall, and the western coast of the state will have 10-15 feet of storm surge.
The storm gravitated further away from the Florida Keys and began to move toward Naples. The local community of Naples, on the west coast, prepared for the eye of the storm.
The mayor of Naples stated that the residents who were currently waiting in hotels, in the city, were ordered to leave the common areas and remain in their rooms. Some of the victims in the hotel rooms lived on Florida’s east coast and migrated to Naples after the warnings of the storm were declared.
Naples officials stated the water distribution lines for the city were broken. Residents of the southern Florida city was told to boil tap water, after the majority of the storm had passed.
The Washington Post stated that Hurricane Irma had regained Category 4 strength by 9 a.m. ET, on Sunday Sept. 10, 2017. The mega hurricane struck several major metropolises in South Florida. One million buildings lost power across the region.
The National Weather Service reported wind gusts, at the speed of 93 miles per hour struck Key Largo. It hit Key West at 89 miles per hour. Irma whipped through Miami at 100 miles per hour and winds flew around high rises in the city. The winds from Hurricane Irma created carnage when it hit South Florida.
The National Weather Service then reported the storm made landfall on Cudjoe Key at 9:10 a.m. The wind gusts were as high as 130 miles per hour before the storm moved north to mainland, United States.
State officials stated the hurricane would proceed toward Florida’s west coast. Irma traveled north after it devastated the Keys.
Weather officials warned the east coast cities, such as Miami, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale, were also in severe danger because of wind storms. Almost all the major population centers were struck by wind and rain.
Florida officials stated that Hurricane Irma could have annihilated the state in a way that had not occurred for 25 years. The size of the storm had not been seen in the area for a generation.
Politico reported that on Sept. 11, Irma pushed inward in the Sunshine State. The storm created hazards for rescuers trying to save stranded citizens of South Florida.
When the massive storm was rampaging through Florida, wind and rain was flowing through neighboring Georgia. The aftermath of Hurricane Irma created carnage when it hit South Florida. It has been downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached Georgia.
By John A. Federico
Edited by Jeanette Smith
Sources:
ABC News: Irma approaching Tampa Bay area with hurricane-force winds; 5 dead, 3.5M without power
ABC News: Florida governor on Hurricane Irma: ‘The most important thing is to pray for us’
The Washington Post: Destructive winds, rain hit Florida as Hurricane Irma makes landfall in the Keys
Politico: Weakened but dangerous Irma lashes Florida with wind, rain
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