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| Version 32 | Version 33 |
|---|---|
| Hurricane Irma: storm weakens to category 1, but surge threat remains – live | Hurricane Irma: storm weakens to category 1, but surge threat remains – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.12am BST | |
| 09:12 | |
| Johnson: UK doing all it can | |
| Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, has rejected claims that the UK government has abandoned British citizens stranded by the hurricane. | |
| Speaking on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he said: “I am confident that we are doing everything we possibly can to help British nationals, but you must understand there half a million of them affected.” | |
| The programme interviewed Amy Brown, a mother of two who stranded in a resort on the Franco-Dutch island of St Martin. She said: “Every single government has responded but there’s been absolutely nothing at all from our government.” | |
| She spoke of fears for her safety after seeing video footage of looters with machetes on the island. “We’re just sitting here feeling totally abandoned,” she said. | |
| Speaking from Caversham in Berkshire her father, Geoffrey Scott Baker, said: “The British response has been absolutely pitiful. It is just sheer incompetence, a callous disregard for our British citizens.” | |
| Responding to the family’s plight, Johnson said, it was the responsibility of France and the Netherlands to evacuate tourists from St Martin. | |
| He said: “This is the biggest consular crisis that we have faced. In St Martin in particular it is important for listeners to understand that this is controlled by the Dutch and the French. They have been evacuating people, but in priority according to their medical need. | |
| “Some British nationals have been evacuated from St Martin. We are in constant touch with the Dutch and the French who are doing it. They don’t want more people coming on to the island which is a disaster zone. It is up to them to get them off.” | |
| Responding to general criticism that the UK government has been slow to respond, Johnson said: “I noticed those criticism. I thought they were completely unjustified. We have been able to get 700 troops into the region, including 125 now onto the British Virgin Islands. There are now more than 50 UK police arriving in the area.” | |
| Asked if the hurricane had caught the UK government unprepared, he said: | |
| “We were there as soon as the crisis broke. It doesn’t make any sense when a Hurricane is impending to send in heavy aircraft or ships that are not going to be capable themselves of withstanding the storm. In fact the French had to ask us for assistance later on because we had got the right sort of kit there. | |
| “You can see an unprecedented British effort to deal with what has been an unprecedented catastrophe for the region. We have not had a storm like this since records began in 1850. | |
| “We have responded in a timely and highly organised fashion. We are going to be there for the long term.” | |
| 8.15am BST | 8.15am BST |
| 08:15 | 08:15 |
| A police officer and a prison guard died in a head-on collision thought to be related to Hurricane Irma, police have confirmed. | A police officer and a prison guard died in a head-on collision thought to be related to Hurricane Irma, police have confirmed. |
| The crash took place in the hurricane evacuation zone, Palm Beach County sheriff’s office announced on Twitter. | The crash took place in the hurricane evacuation zone, Palm Beach County sheriff’s office announced on Twitter. |
| Two officers killed in Hurricane Irma evacuation zone crash. They were both on duty. Let's take a moment to recognize these heroes #IRMA pic.twitter.com/NZmYORZVK8 | Two officers killed in Hurricane Irma evacuation zone crash. They were both on duty. Let's take a moment to recognize these heroes #IRMA pic.twitter.com/NZmYORZVK8 |
| Fox News named the officers as Hardee County deputy Julie Bridges and Florida Department of Corrections sergeant, Joseph Ossman. | Fox News named the officers as Hardee County deputy Julie Bridges and Florida Department of Corrections sergeant, Joseph Ossman. |
| 8.02am BST | 8.02am BST |
| 08:02 | 08:02 |
| 4m without power in Florida | 4m without power in Florida |
| The number of homes currently without power in Florida now stands at more than 4m, according to the latest update from the Florida State Emergency Response Team. That represents 41% of the state, it said. | The number of homes currently without power in Florida now stands at more than 4m, according to the latest update from the Florida State Emergency Response Team. That represents 41% of the state, it said. |
| The worst hit areas are Miami Dade county where 892,470 are without power (down from 1.1m) and neighbouring Broward county where 678,000 don’t have power (down from 933,000). | The worst hit areas are Miami Dade county where 892,470 are without power (down from 1.1m) and neighbouring Broward county where 678,000 don’t have power (down from 933,000). |
| Florida Hurricane #Irma Power Outage 9/11/17 1:51 AM pic.twitter.com/rfOgqPYJkA | Florida Hurricane #Irma Power Outage 9/11/17 1:51 AM pic.twitter.com/rfOgqPYJkA |
| 7.45am BST | 7.45am BST |
| 07:45 | 07:45 |
| Chloe Watson | Chloe Watson |
| It seems it is a right of passage for every TV journalist and meteorologist to venture out into the elements during the midst of a wild storm. Live broadcasts are often met with wind-swept hair, drenched parkas and soaked microphones, as journalists attempt to maintain composure and report to camera. | It seems it is a right of passage for every TV journalist and meteorologist to venture out into the elements during the midst of a wild storm. Live broadcasts are often met with wind-swept hair, drenched parkas and soaked microphones, as journalists attempt to maintain composure and report to camera. |
| Dramatic footage posted on Twitter on Monday shows CNN’s Chris Cuomo braving torrential rain and howling winds in his coverage of Hurricane Irma from Naples, Florida. | Dramatic footage posted on Twitter on Monday shows CNN’s Chris Cuomo braving torrential rain and howling winds in his coverage of Hurricane Irma from Naples, Florida. |
| 7.40am BST | 7.40am BST |
| 07:40 | 07:40 |
| Matthew Weaver | Matthew Weaver |
| Debbie Wasserman–Schultz, a Democraitc Congresswoman for Florida’s 23rd congressional district, says her state will require the most expensive programme in US history to recover from the hurricane. | Debbie Wasserman–Schultz, a Democraitc Congresswoman for Florida’s 23rd congressional district, says her state will require the most expensive programme in US history to recover from the hurricane. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she said: | Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she said: |
| “This is the most significant storm that has hit the United States in modern times. What is very serious about it is that it is hitting virtually the entire state, multiple major metropolitan areas, and we are going to have a recovery the likes to which we have not seen in the United States. | “This is the most significant storm that has hit the United States in modern times. What is very serious about it is that it is hitting virtually the entire state, multiple major metropolitan areas, and we are going to have a recovery the likes to which we have not seen in the United States. |
| “There are a million and half people without power just in the two counties that I represent in Congress. When we have just in Congress passed a significant emergency supplemental aid package for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and that was $15bn and when we go back to Washingtong later this week we are going to need to immediately get to work on a much more significant supplemental aid package because this recovery is going to be the most expensive in history. | “There are a million and half people without power just in the two counties that I represent in Congress. When we have just in Congress passed a significant emergency supplemental aid package for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and that was $15bn and when we go back to Washingtong later this week we are going to need to immediately get to work on a much more significant supplemental aid package because this recovery is going to be the most expensive in history. |
| The Harvey aid package was £15bn I would say that this would be exponentially larger.” | The Harvey aid package was £15bn I would say that this would be exponentially larger.” |
| Urging South Fla residents to remain in safest structure available. Don't be complacent. Worst of #Irma yet to come! https://t.co/GyRXgRbFG6 | Urging South Fla residents to remain in safest structure available. Don't be complacent. Worst of #Irma yet to come! https://t.co/GyRXgRbFG6 |
| 7.23am BST | 7.23am BST |
| 07:23 | 07:23 |
| SUMMARY | SUMMARY |
| Hurricane Irma is continuing to lash Florida as it moves north up the peninsula. It is currently heading into the Tampa Bay area, according to the latest updates from the US national hurricane centre, but the storm is weakening and has been downgraded to a category one storm. It was a category four storm when it first made landfall in the Florida Keys. | Hurricane Irma is continuing to lash Florida as it moves north up the peninsula. It is currently heading into the Tampa Bay area, according to the latest updates from the US national hurricane centre, but the storm is weakening and has been downgraded to a category one storm. It was a category four storm when it first made landfall in the Florida Keys. |
| The most immediate threat from the storm is the possibility of storm surges. The critical point could come at high tide, the USNHC said, and bring up to 15ft (4.5m) of water flooding inland in the Tampa area. High tide is expected at St Petersburg at 5.30am. | The most immediate threat from the storm is the possibility of storm surges. The critical point could come at high tide, the USNHC said, and bring up to 15ft (4.5m) of water flooding inland in the Tampa area. High tide is expected at St Petersburg at 5.30am. |
| The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds weakened to 85 mph (135 kph) with additional weakening expected, the USNHC said at 2am local time. | The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds weakened to 85 mph (135 kph) with additional weakening expected, the USNHC said at 2am local time. |
| Forecasters say they expect Irma’s centre to stay inland over Florida and then move into Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. It will weaken into a tropical storm over far northern Florida or southern Georgia on Monday as it speeds up its forward motion. | Forecasters say they expect Irma’s centre to stay inland over Florida and then move into Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. It will weaken into a tropical storm over far northern Florida or southern Georgia on Monday as it speeds up its forward motion. |
| The full extent of damage in Florida is not known although at least 3.3 million homes are without power in the state, with the prospect of more outages as Irma continues north. Miami International Airport will remain closed until at least Tuesday. | The full extent of damage in Florida is not known although at least 3.3 million homes are without power in the state, with the prospect of more outages as Irma continues north. Miami International Airport will remain closed until at least Tuesday. |
| In the Caribbean, the premier of the British Virgin Islands, Orlando Smith, has asked for immediate aid from the British government to get the territories back on their feet after being devastated by Irma last week. He said the situation was “critical” and called for a “comprehensive package” to rebuild the islands. | In the Caribbean, the premier of the British Virgin Islands, Orlando Smith, has asked for immediate aid from the British government to get the territories back on their feet after being devastated by Irma last week. He said the situation was “critical” and called for a “comprehensive package” to rebuild the islands. |
| The clean-up operation is continuing in the Caribbean where it is thought 28 people have been killed. French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to visit the badly-hit French island of St Martin on Tuesday. Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said the death toll on the Dutch part of St. Martin had doubled to four, and that 70% of homes had been damaged or destroyed. | The clean-up operation is continuing in the Caribbean where it is thought 28 people have been killed. French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to visit the badly-hit French island of St Martin on Tuesday. Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said the death toll on the Dutch part of St. Martin had doubled to four, and that 70% of homes had been damaged or destroyed. |
| 7.13am BST | 7.13am BST |
| 07:13 | 07:13 |
| Irma weakens to category one storm – USNHC | Irma weakens to category one storm – USNHC |
| Irma has been downgraded again to category one and is “weakening” as it heads north of Tampa, the national hurricane centre said in its 2am update. The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds weakened to 85 mph (135 kph) with additional weakening expected. | Irma has been downgraded again to category one and is “weakening” as it heads north of Tampa, the national hurricane centre said in its 2am update. The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds weakened to 85 mph (135 kph) with additional weakening expected. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.20am BST | at 7.20am BST |
| 6.41am BST | 6.41am BST |
| 06:41 | 06:41 |
| If you’re just waking up in the UK/European time zone and want to catch up on the lastest, we have just updated our news report on the progress of Irma over the Florida peninsula and the clean-up operation in the Caribbean. | If you’re just waking up in the UK/European time zone and want to catch up on the lastest, we have just updated our news report on the progress of Irma over the Florida peninsula and the clean-up operation in the Caribbean. |
| 6.13am BST | 6.13am BST |
| 06:13 | 06:13 |
| Check out this video of the storm as it crashed into Florida on Sunday. | Check out this video of the storm as it crashed into Florida on Sunday. |
| 6.05am BST | 6.05am BST |
| 06:05 | 06:05 |
| Irma 'lashing central Florida' – USNHC | Irma 'lashing central Florida' – USNHC |
| The storm is moving northwards between Lakeland and Tampa, according to the latest update from the hurricane centre, “lashing” central Florida as it goes. | The storm is moving northwards between Lakeland and Tampa, according to the latest update from the hurricane centre, “lashing” central Florida as it goes. |
| The update gives the location of the centre of the storm as right here, indicating that it has veered north-northwest in the past hour as forecast earlier. | The update gives the location of the centre of the storm as right here, indicating that it has veered north-northwest in the past hour as forecast earlier. |
| Our reporter Jessica Glenza is in St Petersburg and says that although the strength of the storm has dropped to category 2 the threat from storm surges remains. She says the critical point at St Petersburg could come at 5.30am at high itde. | Our reporter Jessica Glenza is in St Petersburg and says that although the strength of the storm has dropped to category 2 the threat from storm surges remains. She says the critical point at St Petersburg could come at 5.30am at high itde. |