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Hurricane Matthew: 'Big bad beast' storm strafes Florida Hurricane Matthew: 'Big bad beast' storm batters Florida
(35 minutes later)
Hurricane Matthew is strafing the coast of Florida, where it has left about 600,000 people without power. Hurricane Matthew is battering the coast of Florida, where it has left about 600,000 people without power.
The system, which has not yet made landfall in the US, has been downgraded to a Category Three, with winds of up to 120 mph (195 km/h).The system, which has not yet made landfall in the US, has been downgraded to a Category Three, with winds of up to 120 mph (195 km/h).
But it could still be the first major hurricane to make landfall in the US in more than a decade. Florida's governor said the hurricane, which would be the first to make US landfall since 2005, still had time to make a direct hit.
In Haiti, where the storm has devastated coastal communities, the death toll has surpassed 400. In Haiti, Matthew left a death toll of more than 400 in its wake.
At 08:00 local time (12:00 GMT) Matthew was hugging the Florida coast, about 45 miles east of Daytona Beach and moving north-west at about 13mph, the National Hurricane Center said. At 11:00 local time (15:00 GMT) Matthew was hugging the Florida coast, about 35 miles east of Daytona Beach and moving north-west at about 13mph, the National Hurricane Center said.
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have all declared states of emergencies.Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have all declared states of emergencies.
At the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, NASA's shuttle fleet is now retired, but the space company SpaceX is anxious that the storm could damage its seaside launch pad. On Friday morning, President Barack Obama addressed fears that the storm's winds could fuel a wave of seawater that might wash over coastal communities along a 500-mile stretch from South Florida to Charleston, South Carolina.
Florida Governor Rick Scott said on Friday morning it was a "blessing" the state had so far been spared a direct hit. "The big concern at this point is storm surge," Mr Obama told reporters from the White House.
But there are fears the storm's winds could fuel a wave of seawater that might wash over coastal communities along a 500-mile stretch from South Florida to Charleston, South Carolina. "Many of you will remember (2012 storm) Hurricane Sandy, where initially people thought this doesn't look as bad as we thought, and then suddenly you get a massive storm surge and a lot of people are severely affected.
Forecasters said Matthew could dump up to 15in of rain and cause a storm surge of 9ft or more. "I just wanted to emphasise to everybody that this is still a really dangerous storm."
The World Meteorological Organisation, which is the UN's weather agency, warned that the hurricane would remain dangerous regardless of whether it makes landfall. Forecasters have said Matthew could dump up to 15in of rain and cause a storm surge of 9ft or more.
Spokeswoman Clare Nullis told the BBC: "Matthew is a very big and very bad beast. And it's not going to go away in the next couple of days."
Some two million people have been advised to evacuate across coastal areas of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.Some two million people have been advised to evacuate across coastal areas of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
But those who refused to leave central Florida's Atlantic coast called emergency services for help as the storm's western eye wall brushed Cape Canaveral.
Brevard County Emergency Operations spokesman David Waters said they had heard from one family on Merritt Island whose home just had its roof ripped off.Brevard County Emergency Operations spokesman David Waters said they had heard from one family on Merritt Island whose home just had its roof ripped off.
Some callers have said: "We're scared. We wish we hadn't stayed."Some callers have said: "We're scared. We wish we hadn't stayed."
The World Meteorological Organisation, which is the UN's weather agency, warned that the hurricane would remain dangerous regardless of whether it makes landfall.
Spokeswoman Clare Nullis told the BBC: "Matthew is a very big and very bad beast. And it's not going to go away in the next couple of days."
At the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, NASA's shuttle fleet is now retired, but the space company SpaceX is anxious that the storm could damage its seaside launch pad.
Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld - the famed theme parks in Orlando, Florida - are all closed.Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld - the famed theme parks in Orlando, Florida - are all closed.
Fort Lauderdale and Orlando airports have shut, and airlines have cancelled more than 3,000 flights. Fort Lauderdale and Orlando airports have shut, and airlines have cancelled more than 4,500 flights.
Amtrak suspended train services between Miami and New York, while cruise lines have rerouted ships to avoid the storm, meaning days longer at sea for some passengers.Amtrak suspended train services between Miami and New York, while cruise lines have rerouted ships to avoid the storm, meaning days longer at sea for some passengers.
But those who refused to leave central Florida's Atlantic coast are now calling emergency services for help as the storm's western eye wall brushes Cape Canaveral.
Florida's history of hurricanesFlorida's history of hurricanes
Thousands of people have hunkered down in schools converted to shelters.Thousands of people have hunkered down in schools converted to shelters.
Patients have been transferred to safer locations from two waterfront hospitals and a nursing home near Daytona Beach, Florida.Patients have been transferred to safer locations from two waterfront hospitals and a nursing home near Daytona Beach, Florida.
After Florida, forecasters said Matthew would probably hug the coast of Georgia and South Carolina over the weekend before spinning out to sea.After Florida, forecasters said Matthew would probably hug the coast of Georgia and South Carolina over the weekend before spinning out to sea.
In many areas on Thursday, cars queued for fuel and residents stocked up on food and hardware supplies to board up their houses, local reports said.In many areas on Thursday, cars queued for fuel and residents stocked up on food and hardware supplies to board up their houses, local reports said.
In South Carolina, lanes on some highways were reversed so vehicles could head west away from the storm.In South Carolina, lanes on some highways were reversed so vehicles could head west away from the storm.
North Carolina could also be affected as the storm marches north.
Have you been affected by Hurricane Matthew? Are you preparing for its arrival in Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina? Only if it safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by Hurricane Matthew? Are you preparing for its arrival in Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina? Only if it safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. Please stay safe. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. Please stay safe. You can also contact us in the following ways:
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