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| Hurricane Irma: 10 dead in Cuba as record flooding hits northern Florida – latest news | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.39pm BST | |
| 18:39 | |
| The Fort Lauderdale airport will reopen at 4am Tuesday, the airport said in a statement, and city governments from Tampa to Miami are making similar plans – even as their crews are already at work doing cleanup and search and rescue. | |
| For residents and business owners of south Florida, the work has also begun to take down the plywood, metal storm shutters and plastic wrap. | |
| A familiar sight for many fleeing Irma in FL, many gas stations are now beginning to reopen pic.twitter.com/gWPPtONoKG | |
| 6.36pm BST | |
| 18:36 | |
| “Miami Beach didn’t dodge a bullet, we dodged a cannon,” the city’s mayor Philip Levine has told CNN. | |
| “We got hurricane three force winds but thank god. The damage we received – there’s trees all over the ground, there’s power lines down, there’s gas leaks. But we’ve had teams on the ground since the crack of down and they have been there making sure we can clean up the city as fast as possible. We want the residents to return asap.” | |
| The west coast also avoided the cataclysmic 10-15ft storm surges that threatened, and that seem to have hit the Keys. Ed Pilkington is currently en route to one of the cities where storm surges were likely most serious on the mainland. | |
| Driving through flooded roads to reach Everglades City that I'm told is cut off and under 6ft of water in southern Florida. pic.twitter.com/cIaVxFHPI5 | |
| Naples, where Irma’s eye crossed onto land, feared intense surges of five to eight feet. The Naples Daily News’ Joseph Cranney is among the reporters surveying the damage. | |
| Irma flattened the tiki hut at the Cove Inn. pic.twitter.com/f0QplNHg7p | |
| 6.17pm BST | |
| 18:17 | |
| The Florida Keys have been cut off from the mainland for over 24 hours now, and suffered the brunt of Irma’s category four force for much of Saturday. | |
| The police have closed the only road access to the islands, for fear of how safe its bridges are, and the first helicopter footage of the Keys shows massive flooding all around them. The coast guard has advised people not to even attempt boating to the islands, because of dangerous debris. The military is attempting search and rescue operations for the unknown number of people who are stranded there. | |
| National Geographic photographer Mike Theiss was on one of those people, and has re-established a connection to the internet. He’s tweeted harrowing footage of the storm’s arrival and what’s left in its wake. | |
| Surge coming in #KeyWest as #HurricaneIrma made landfall. pic.twitter.com/4ToLvAhxOU | |
| Flooding on north side of #KeyWest from #HurricaneIrma pic.twitter.com/LfEHr3YFks | |
| 6.00pm BST | 6.00pm BST |
| 18:00 | 18:00 |
| In Everglades City, just north of Monroe County – on the southern Gulf coast and an evacuation zone – MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff films severe flooding that has yet to recede. | In Everglades City, just north of Monroe County – on the southern Gulf coast and an evacuation zone – MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff films severe flooding that has yet to recede. |
| Total flooding in Everglades City. pic.twitter.com/CZvcZ3JO0g | Total flooding in Everglades City. pic.twitter.com/CZvcZ3JO0g |
| Power remains out for some 6.5 million homes and businesses around the state, and authorities are urging people to stay off the roads or at least to take care with outed intersections.Downed | Power remains out for some 6.5 million homes and businesses around the state, and authorities are urging people to stay off the roads or at least to take care with outed intersections.Downed |
| High waters around Baughman pic.twitter.com/ChMha8DM4Z | High waters around Baughman pic.twitter.com/ChMha8DM4Z |
| Wow! Three large trees in a row are uprooted, buckling the sidewalk along Olive Street #IRMA @CBS12 pic.twitter.com/1MSc2oTWHR | Wow! Three large trees in a row are uprooted, buckling the sidewalk along Olive Street #IRMA @CBS12 pic.twitter.com/1MSc2oTWHR |
| 5.22pm BST | 5.22pm BST |
| 17:22 | 17:22 |
| As the sun burns through the clouds aroud south Florida, photographers and residents take stock of Irma’s passage. | As the sun burns through the clouds aroud south Florida, photographers and residents take stock of Irma’s passage. |
| 5.13pm BST | 5.13pm BST |
| 17:13 | 17:13 |
| The National Weather Service is warning that flash floods are likely and extremely dangerous in the Jacksonville area, with the St Johns river and other waterways cresting at record levels. | The National Weather Service is warning that flash floods are likely and extremely dangerous in the Jacksonville area, with the St Johns river and other waterways cresting at record levels. |
| At about 11am, the North Fork Black Creek broke a 1919 all-time record at 25.7ft. The waters are still rising. | At about 11am, the North Fork Black Creek broke a 1919 all-time record at 25.7ft. The waters are still rising. |
| Irma is battering northern Florida on its course toward Georgia, with sustained winds of 65mph. The storm is about 70 miles east of Tallahassee. | Irma is battering northern Florida on its course toward Georgia, with sustained winds of 65mph. The storm is about 70 miles east of Tallahassee. |
| 5.01pm BST | 5.01pm BST |
| 17:01 | 17:01 |
| Jacksonville’s sheriff’s office has ordered people along the St Johns River to “Get out NOW” from evacuation zones, as tropical depression Irma batters the city. | Jacksonville’s sheriff’s office has ordered people along the St Johns River to “Get out NOW” from evacuation zones, as tropical depression Irma batters the city. |
| The department warns that the river is at historic flood levels, with high tide at 2pm. They had earlier told people who needed help to put a white flag or T-shirt somewhere visible on their house, as a plea for assistance. | The department warns that the river is at historic flood levels, with high tide at 2pm. They had earlier told people who needed help to put a white flag or T-shirt somewhere visible on their house, as a plea for assistance. |
| Video shows waves spilling over walkway as tide rises in Jacksonville, Florida.(Via Sarah Hedden) pic.twitter.com/4RFWQA6DsL | Video shows waves spilling over walkway as tide rises in Jacksonville, Florida.(Via Sarah Hedden) pic.twitter.com/4RFWQA6DsL |
| 4.57pm BST | 4.57pm BST |
| 16:57 | 16:57 |
| Irma by the numbers, as of about noon Monday. | Irma by the numbers, as of about noon Monday. |
| Hours of sustained 185mph winds in the Caribbean: 37 (a record) | Hours of sustained 185mph winds in the Caribbean: 37 (a record) |
| Sustained winds at landfall on the Florida Keys: 130mph | Sustained winds at landfall on the Florida Keys: 130mph |
| Strongest reported gust on the US mainland (Naples): 142mph | Strongest reported gust on the US mainland (Naples): 142mph |
| Estimated number of people without power around Florida: as many as 6.5 million. | Estimated number of people without power around Florida: as many as 6.5 million. |
| Estimated number of people in shelters: 160,000 | Estimated number of people in shelters: 160,000 |
| Estimated number of regional flights canceled in the last week: more than 12,500 | Estimated number of regional flights canceled in the last week: more than 12,500 |
| Estimated number of people told to evacuate from coastal swaths of Florida: 6.5 million (about a third of the state’s population). | Estimated number of people told to evacuate from coastal swaths of Florida: 6.5 million (about a third of the state’s population). |
| Number of people confirmed killed in circumstances related to the storm: 27 | Number of people confirmed killed in circumstances related to the storm: 27 |
| Estimated percent of buildings on Barbuda made “uninhabitable”: 90% | Estimated percent of buildings on Barbuda made “uninhabitable”: 90% |
| On French St Martin: 60% | On French St Martin: 60% |
| Number of British soldiers sent to the Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Turks and Caicos: 500 | Number of British soldiers sent to the Virgin Islands, Anguilla and Turks and Caicos: 500 |
| Size of relief fund from the British government: £32m | Size of relief fund from the British government: £32m |
| Number of French gendarmes, police, security, and medical personnel sent to St Martin and St Barthélemy: 1,115 | Number of French gendarmes, police, security, and medical personnel sent to St Martin and St Barthélemy: 1,115 |
| Tonnage of medical supplies and food sent by France: 2.2 and 85 | Tonnage of medical supplies and food sent by France: 2.2 and 85 |
| Number of US marines sent to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico: 950 | Number of US marines sent to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico: 950 |
| Number of Florida national guard troops mobilized: 7,000 | Number of Florida national guard troops mobilized: 7,000 |
| Estimated cost of 1992’s hurricane Andrew: $27bn | Estimated cost of 1992’s hurricane Andrew: $27bn |
| Of 2005’s hurricane Katrina: $108bn | Of 2005’s hurricane Katrina: $108bn |
| Of 2017’s hurricane Harvey: $70-108bn | Of 2017’s hurricane Harvey: $70-108bn |
| Size of US relief package approved on Friday for Texas: $15bn | Size of US relief package approved on Friday for Texas: $15bn |
| Cost estimates of hurricane Irma: $15-172bn | Cost estimates of hurricane Irma: $15-172bn |
| Current reserve of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund: $17bn | Current reserve of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund: $17bn |
| Open roads to the Florida Keys on Saturday: 1 | Open roads to the Florida Keys on Saturday: 1 |
| On Monday: 0 | On Monday: 0 |
| Time elapsed between category four storms making landfall in US states: 16 days | Time elapsed between category four storms making landfall in US states: 16 days |
| (Sources: the Guardian, Florida Division of Emergency Management, AP, Governor Rick Scott, Barbuda prime minister Gaston Browne, AP, Gov.uk, CNN, meteorologists Eric Black and Philip Klotzbach, the New York Times, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, CoreLogic, National Weather Service, Fema) | (Sources: the Guardian, Florida Division of Emergency Management, AP, Governor Rick Scott, Barbuda prime minister Gaston Browne, AP, Gov.uk, CNN, meteorologists Eric Black and Philip Klotzbach, the New York Times, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, CoreLogic, National Weather Service, Fema) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.07pm BST | at 5.07pm BST |
| 4.46pm BST | 4.46pm BST |
| 16:46 | 16:46 |
| In eastern Florida, residents are tentatively stepping outide to inspect the damage. | In eastern Florida, residents are tentatively stepping outide to inspect the damage. |
| FLL beach @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/llH9hdDKV0 | FLL beach @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/llH9hdDKV0 |
| "We prepared for a disaster. Yes, there's a lot of damage out here, but it's not what it could've been." - Delray's dep utility director pic.twitter.com/DAcKfXlcB2 | "We prepared for a disaster. Yes, there's a lot of damage out here, but it's not what it could've been." - Delray's dep utility director pic.twitter.com/DAcKfXlcB2 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.14pm BST | at 5.14pm BST |
| 4.11pm BST | 4.11pm BST |
| 16:11 | 16:11 |
| A local NBC news team has the first helicopter footage of the Florida Keys, where hurricane Irma first made landfall in Florida. | A local NBC news team has the first helicopter footage of the Florida Keys, where hurricane Irma first made landfall in Florida. |
| The islands are functionally cut off from the outside world: police are keeping people off of US-1, the only road to the mainland, until they can ensure its bridges are safe. The coast guard has ordered people to stay away even with boats, because debris from smashed boats, homes, and vehicles is too dangerous. | The islands are functionally cut off from the outside world: police are keeping people off of US-1, the only road to the mainland, until they can ensure its bridges are safe. The coast guard has ordered people to stay away even with boats, because debris from smashed boats, homes, and vehicles is too dangerous. |
| “Some homes are completely obliterated,” a reporter says. Boats look flung into docks and homes, structures damaged, and a firetruck swamped above its tires, a full 25 hours after the landfall. The Keys are only accessible by air, and it’s difficult to tell where the ocean, floods, and sunken roads begin and end. | “Some homes are completely obliterated,” a reporter says. Boats look flung into docks and homes, structures damaged, and a firetruck swamped above its tires, a full 25 hours after the landfall. The Keys are only accessible by air, and it’s difficult to tell where the ocean, floods, and sunken roads begin and end. |
| Military rescues will begin later today. It’s not known how many people stayed on the Keys despite mandatory evacuation orders. | Military rescues will begin later today. It’s not known how many people stayed on the Keys despite mandatory evacuation orders. |
| LIVE AERIAL VIEWS: First look from the air of the damage #HurricaneIrma left in Florida Keys https://t.co/Kld1t9HhRa pic.twitter.com/2RbMYPRMPV | LIVE AERIAL VIEWS: First look from the air of the damage #HurricaneIrma left in Florida Keys https://t.co/Kld1t9HhRa pic.twitter.com/2RbMYPRMPV |
| 3.48pm BST | 3.48pm BST |
| 15:48 | 15:48 |
| Miami mayor Tomas Regalado is giving a press conference, saying that 72% of the city has lost power . | Miami mayor Tomas Regalado is giving a press conference, saying that 72% of the city has lost power . |
| The priority now that teh winds died down, he says, is to clear the roads. | The priority now that teh winds died down, he says, is to clear the roads. |
| “We had localized flooding but I think for the most part that flooding has receded,” the city manager says. | “We had localized flooding but I think for the most part that flooding has receded,” the city manager says. |
| The emergency manager then takes the podium, saying that rescue teams have been working since late last night, when the winds finally died down to safe levels. “Our main mission is to make sure that our critical infrastructure is protected,” he says. Teams are starting to head out to help people, clear the roads, and inspect endangered water and power lines. | The emergency manager then takes the podium, saying that rescue teams have been working since late last night, when the winds finally died down to safe levels. “Our main mission is to make sure that our critical infrastructure is protected,” he says. Teams are starting to head out to help people, clear the roads, and inspect endangered water and power lines. |
| There are no reported deaths so far in Miami, a law enforcement official says. He urges people to stay away from power lines and the debris near them. “We’re proud of the more than half million citizens of Miami,” he says. Police have heard of isolated looting, he says. | There are no reported deaths so far in Miami, a law enforcement official says. He urges people to stay away from power lines and the debris near them. “We’re proud of the more than half million citizens of Miami,” he says. Police have heard of isolated looting, he says. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.57pm BST | at 3.57pm BST |
| 3.07pm BST | 3.07pm BST |
| 15:07 | 15:07 |
| Trump: 'these are storms of catastrophic severity' | Trump: 'these are storms of catastrophic severity' |
| Donald Trump has said his thoughts are with the survivors and families of the victims of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. | Donald Trump has said his thoughts are with the survivors and families of the victims of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey. |
| In a speech at the Pentagon to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he said: | In a speech at the Pentagon to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he said: |
| These are storms of catastrophic severity and we are marshalling the full full resources of the federal government to help our fellow Americans in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and all of those wonderful places and states in harm’s way. | These are storms of catastrophic severity and we are marshalling the full full resources of the federal government to help our fellow Americans in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee and all of those wonderful places and states in harm’s way. |
| When Americans are in in need, Americans pull together. And we our one country. And when we face hardship we emerge, closer, stronger and more determined than ever. | When Americans are in in need, Americans pull together. And we our one country. And when we face hardship we emerge, closer, stronger and more determined than ever. |