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| Hurricane Irma: 'Life threatening storm surge expected in the Florida Keys' – latest updates | Hurricane Irma: 'Life threatening storm surge expected in the Florida Keys' – latest updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.07am BST | |
| 09:07 | |
| In just four hours, the rainfall record for Fort Pierce, Florida, for this date has been broken, according to the National Weather Service. | |
| 4am | The sun hasn't even risen, & Ft Pierce has already broken their previous rainfall record for today (1.63"); measuring 3.93" as of now! | |
| 9.02am BST | |
| 09:02 | |
| These videos show the scene in Miami: | |
| Boats are breaking from their anchors in the bay behind Miami's Parrot Jungle. Seeing many come ashore - bad damage. @wsvn #HurrcaneIrma pic.twitter.com/15O7ZNE4rf | |
| Minutes ago: Another band of heavy wind & rain blowing in from #HurricaneIrma in Miami. LIVE coverage: https://t.co/9W5mkpCWGZ @NBC6 pic.twitter.com/WOK7G23msV | |
| 8.52am BST | |
| 08:52 | |
| Tornado warning issued for Florida | |
| Warnings have been issued of the risk of tornadoes across Florida tonight. | |
| A tornado risk through tonight for #FL. Isolated tornadoes are common with Hurricanes. Greatest threat exists east of the storm's path #flwx pic.twitter.com/MXGpYvXBXW | |
| Hurricane Irma is expected to reach Key West within the next couple of hours. | |
| Hurricane #Irma 3 AM EDT position update from @NHC_Atlantic. Sustained hurricane-force winds expected to reach #FLKeys within 1-2 hours. pic.twitter.com/jQmRQJ2oMJ | |
| 8.37am BST | |
| 08:37 | |
| Helena Smith | |
| The mayor of Tarpon Springs, in Pinellas County, Chris Alakouzos, which has the highest concentration of Greeks of any city in the US, has has been called by the president of Greece as Florida braces for Hurricane Irma. | |
| Greece’s head of state Prokopis Pavlopoulos told the mayor that the nation’s thoughts were with the people of Tarpon Springs. | |
| Speaking to Greece’s state-run TV, ERT, Alakouzos said most citizens “had wanted to leave for other states like New York, New Jersey,” after he called a mandatory state of emergency on Saturday. Around 60% of Tarpon Spring’s 25,000 strong population live along its shores. | |
| Traditionally a sponge diving community, Tarpon Springs was first populated by immigrants from the Greek Dodecannese islands including the Greek-born mayor who moved to Florida with his sponge diver father from Kalymnos island at the age of 14. | |
| A statement from Greece’s presidential palace said the country’s head of state would be in “constant contact” and wished the community strength during the ordeal that lay ahead. | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.46am BST | |
| 8.34am BST | |
| 08:34 | |
| Hurricane Irma is edging closer to Key West and continues to have maximum sustained winds of 130mph. | |
| #Irma is now 65 miles southeast of Key West with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph: https://t.co/fSI662UQBj pic.twitter.com/KDUhSeqS3h | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.49am BST | |
| 7.59am BST | 7.59am BST |
| 07:59 | 07:59 |
| SUMMARY | SUMMARY |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| Florida governor Rick Scott says Irma is the “most catastrophic storm” in the state’s history and that sea surges could “cover your house”. He also said at least 76,000 people are without power. | Florida governor Rick Scott says Irma is the “most catastrophic storm” in the state’s history and that sea surges could “cover your house”. He also said at least 76,000 people are without power. |
| Irma has been upgraded back to a category 4 storm, the National hurricane centre said, after gathering intensity over the warm waters of the Florida Straits. It is now 70 miles from Key West and has sustained winds of 130mph (210kmh). | Irma has been upgraded back to a category 4 storm, the National hurricane centre said, after gathering intensity over the warm waters of the Florida Straits. It is now 70 miles from Key West and has sustained winds of 130mph (210kmh). |
| As Hurricane Irma moves through the Caribbean, President Trump has issued emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Puerto Rico. A major disaster declaration has also been issued for the US Virgin Islands. A hurricane warning is in effect for central and southern Florida and the Florida Keys. | As Hurricane Irma moves through the Caribbean, President Trump has issued emergency declarations for Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Puerto Rico. A major disaster declaration has also been issued for the US Virgin Islands. A hurricane warning is in effect for central and southern Florida and the Florida Keys. |
| Amid urgent warnings from state officials to evacuate before it was too late, downtown Miami was all but abandoned on Saturday. | Amid urgent warnings from state officials to evacuate before it was too late, downtown Miami was all but abandoned on Saturday. |
| Residents in the British Virgin Islands have described a scene of “utter devastation” in the wake of Irma. | Residents in the British Virgin Islands have described a scene of “utter devastation” in the wake of Irma. |
| The Cuban capital Havana has flooded and 5,000 tourists evacuated after Irma raked the country’s north coast. | The Cuban capital Havana has flooded and 5,000 tourists evacuated after Irma raked the country’s north coast. |
| Prime minister William Marlin of the Dutch island St Maarten says about 1,600 tourists who were in the Dutch Caribbean territory have been evacuated and efforts are being made to move 1,200 more. | Prime minister William Marlin of the Dutch island St Maarten says about 1,600 tourists who were in the Dutch Caribbean territory have been evacuated and efforts are being made to move 1,200 more. |
| A Florida sheriff has advised people not to shoot at the hurricane as this could backfire. | A Florida sheriff has advised people not to shoot at the hurricane as this could backfire. |
| All over Florida, from zoos to refuges to shelters, getting animals ready for the storm is a top priority, with Monroe County jail being used to house many. | All over Florida, from zoos to refuges to shelters, getting animals ready for the storm is a top priority, with Monroe County jail being used to house many. |
| 7.52am BST | 7.52am BST |
| 07:52 | 07:52 |
| Havana flooded and tourists evacuated in Cuba | Havana flooded and tourists evacuated in Cuba |
| Irma left a trail of destruction in Cuba after passing over the north coast of the Caribbean nation on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The capital, Havana, was flooded by surging sea water and the storm raked resorts built in recent years on the north coast, forcing the evacuation of 5,000 tourists. | Irma left a trail of destruction in Cuba after passing over the north coast of the Caribbean nation on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The capital, Havana, was flooded by surging sea water and the storm raked resorts built in recent years on the north coast, forcing the evacuation of 5,000 tourists. |
| Thousands of residents were also evacuated by soldiers, with many taken to government shelters and schools. | Thousands of residents were also evacuated by soldiers, with many taken to government shelters and schools. |
| Read our full report here. | Read our full report here. |
| 7.48am BST | 7.48am BST |
| 07:48 | 07:48 |
| Irma upgraded back to category 4 storm | Irma upgraded back to category 4 storm |
| The US national hurricane centre has said that Irma is now back to a category 4 strength storm. | The US national hurricane centre has said that Irma is now back to a category 4 strength storm. |
| It is about 70 miles (115km) south-south-east of Key West with maximum sustained winds of 130mph (210kmh). | It is about 70 miles (115km) south-south-east of Key West with maximum sustained winds of 130mph (210kmh). |
| 6.39am BST | 6.39am BST |
| 06:39 | 06:39 |
| 6.35am BST | 6.35am BST |
| 06:35 | 06:35 |
| Whoa... Just recorded a 69 knot gust here at the office in Key West! That's 79 mph!!! Again, please, please shelter in place, inside! #Irma pic.twitter.com/p28xkjiQ2B | Whoa... Just recorded a 69 knot gust here at the office in Key West! That's 79 mph!!! Again, please, please shelter in place, inside! #Irma pic.twitter.com/p28xkjiQ2B |
| 6.25am BST | 6.25am BST |
| 06:25 | 06:25 |
| AP has published a useful explainer of the phrase storm surge. | AP has published a useful explainer of the phrase storm surge. |
| The storm surge is called dangerous and life-threatening, but what exactly is it? | The storm surge is called dangerous and life-threatening, but what exactly is it? |
| It’s not a wall of water or a tsunami. Simply put, hurricane winds push water toward shore. It can happen quickly and far from a storm’s centre, inundating areas that don’t typically flood. | It’s not a wall of water or a tsunami. Simply put, hurricane winds push water toward shore. It can happen quickly and far from a storm’s centre, inundating areas that don’t typically flood. |
| Storm surge doesn’t just come from the ocean. It can come from sounds, bays and lakes, sometimes well inland. | Storm surge doesn’t just come from the ocean. It can come from sounds, bays and lakes, sometimes well inland. |
| Large hurricanes tend to create greater storm surge over a broader area, and coastal features such as bays can act like funnels and back water up into rivers and canals, said Jamie Rhome, head of the US National Hurricane Center’s storm surge unit. | Large hurricanes tend to create greater storm surge over a broader area, and coastal features such as bays can act like funnels and back water up into rivers and canals, said Jamie Rhome, head of the US National Hurricane Center’s storm surge unit. |
| “This is going to sneak up on people,” Rhome said. | “This is going to sneak up on people,” Rhome said. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.32am BST | at 6.32am BST |
| 6.13am BST | 6.13am BST |
| 06:13 | 06:13 |
| Associated Press reports on animals affected by Hurricane Irma. | Associated Press reports on animals affected by Hurricane Irma. |
| Mo the Sloth and Kramer the Emu are as innocent as they come, but they’re doing time in a county jail in Florida. | Mo the Sloth and Kramer the Emu are as innocent as they come, but they’re doing time in a county jail in Florida. |
| So are plenty of horses, pigs, goats, sheep, tropical birds, alligators, snakes, turtles and other species the sheriff’s office cares for at a farm for abandoned, abused, confiscated or donated animals. | So are plenty of horses, pigs, goats, sheep, tropical birds, alligators, snakes, turtles and other species the sheriff’s office cares for at a farm for abandoned, abused, confiscated or donated animals. |
| Once the 426 humans who normally occupy cells at the Monroe County jail were evacuated by bus to lockups in Palm Beach County, there was an opportunity to move 250 animals indoors, rather than leave them exposed to Hurricane Irma’s storm surge, rains and wind. | Once the 426 humans who normally occupy cells at the Monroe County jail were evacuated by bus to lockups in Palm Beach County, there was an opportunity to move 250 animals indoors, rather than leave them exposed to Hurricane Irma’s storm surge, rains and wind. |
| After all, hurricane preparedness wasn’t just about protecting humans and buildings. All over Florida, from zoos to refuges to shelters, getting animals ready for the storm was a top priority as well. | After all, hurricane preparedness wasn’t just about protecting humans and buildings. All over Florida, from zoos to refuges to shelters, getting animals ready for the storm was a top priority as well. |
| 5.38am BST | 5.38am BST |
| 05:38 | 05:38 |
| 5.33am BST | 5.33am BST |
| 05:33 | 05:33 |