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| Hurricane Irma: floods devastate Florida Keys as Caribbean in chaos – latest news | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.36pm BST | |
| 21:36 | |
| Charleston is awash with storm surge and rain, as seawater rushes over embankments into the city. | |
| WATCH: High winds and severe flooding near Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston, South Carolina(Via Patrick Spoon) pic.twitter.com/5DZ84KMNff | |
| After doing their damage to homes, cars, boats and lives, the waters will quickly retreat to the sea, as they’re already doing to the south. | |
| Tide receding along #Hwy80 showing all #Irma spoils. @cityoftybee @Tybee_PD #WTOC PIC: Capt. Brown pic.twitter.com/b27LPtXGJZ | |
| 9.26pm BST | |
| 21:26 | |
| One killed in Georgia | |
| Tropical storm Irma has killed one person in Georgia, an emergency management official has confirmed to the AP. | |
| The death was in rural Worth County, in south-west Georgia, in the path of the storm. It was confirmed as a storm related death by Georgia Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Catherine Howden. She gave no details. | |
| Along the coast, where storm surges started flooding towns and cities, Savanna had been ordered to evacuate for the second time in less than a year. Atlanta, although more than 200 miles inland, is under a tropical storm warning. | |
| Some people stayed behind in the coastal regions, including Holland Zellers, who also spoke with the AP. He said the water in the street was “knee-to-waist deep”. | |
| Shawn Gillen, Tybee Island’s city manager, said waters appeared to be receding quickly but the flooding was extensive on the island of more than 3,000 residents. | |
| “There’s a lot of homes that have water in the them right now,” Gillen said. | |
| More than 800,000 homes and businesses in south Georgia have lost power, utility providers have said. More than 70% of Miami still lacks power, and 6.5 million homes and businesses have lost power all around Florida, roughly two-thirds of the state. | |
| 9.12pm BST | |
| 21:12 | |
| Jacksonville and Charleston are suffering intense, and in some cases historic flooding, with the rain and winds especially buffeting the South Carolina city. | |
| In Jacksonville, residents are trying to desperately evacuate homes from thigh-high floodwaters, with boats, coolers, life vests and plastic bins to rescue anything they can. | |
| 8.57pm BST | 8.57pm BST |
| 20:57 | 20:57 |
| A Florida official says that it’s impossible to know right now how much damage Irma has caused. | A Florida official says that it’s impossible to know right now how much damage Irma has caused. |
| “It’s going to cost billions upon billions upon billions of dollars,” he says. The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Brock Long, has assured Florida officials that the agency has sufficient funding for a few more months. | “It’s going to cost billions upon billions upon billions of dollars,” he says. The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Brock Long, has assured Florida officials that the agency has sufficient funding for a few more months. |
| But the official says it’s clear the agency needs more long-term funds to cope with damage from Harvey and Irma. “We’re still in the middle of hurricane season.” | But the official says it’s clear the agency needs more long-term funds to cope with damage from Harvey and Irma. “We’re still in the middle of hurricane season.” |
| 8.42pm BST | 8.42pm BST |
| 20:42 | 20:42 |
| Scott: devastation on the Keys | Scott: devastation on the Keys |
| Scott also breathes a sigh of relief that along the western coast, where Irma made landfall near Naples, “I didn’t see the damage that we thought we would see.” | Scott also breathes a sigh of relief that along the western coast, where Irma made landfall near Naples, “I didn’t see the damage that we thought we would see.” |
| Homes were “messed up”, boats tossed ashore and roofs torn off, Scott says, but the storm surge was not as severe as feared, and people mostly heeded evacuation orders. | Homes were “messed up”, boats tossed ashore and roofs torn off, Scott says, but the storm surge was not as severe as feared, and people mostly heeded evacuation orders. |
| Far worse were the Florida Keys. Scott traveled to the naval air station on Key West earlier today, and saw boats carried into homes, nearly every trailer park overturned, and flood damage everywhere. | Far worse were the Florida Keys. Scott traveled to the naval air station on Key West earlier today, and saw boats carried into homes, nearly every trailer park overturned, and flood damage everywhere. |
| “The water is not working, the sewer is not working, and there’s no electricity. so it’s very tough.” | “The water is not working, the sewer is not working, and there’s no electricity. so it’s very tough.” |
| The national guard has managed to take US-1, the only road to the Keys, all the way through them, but Scott says it’s not yet entirely safe. “There’s clearly some bridge damage, some road damage.” | The national guard has managed to take US-1, the only road to the Keys, all the way through them, but Scott says it’s not yet entirely safe. “There’s clearly some bridge damage, some road damage.” |
| “My heart goes out to the people on the Keys. I mean, it’s devastation. I just hope everybody survived. It’s horrible, what we saw.” | “My heart goes out to the people on the Keys. I mean, it’s devastation. I just hope everybody survived. It’s horrible, what we saw.” |
| Finally, the governor pleads for patience. “We’ve got to get our first responders to the Keys, we’ve got to get the water going again, we’ve got to get the power going again. It’s going to take a lot of time,” Scott says. | Finally, the governor pleads for patience. “We’ve got to get our first responders to the Keys, we’ve got to get the water going again, we’ve got to get the power going again. It’s going to take a lot of time,” Scott says. |
| “Especially for the Keys, it’s going to be a long road.” | “Especially for the Keys, it’s going to be a long road.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.52pm BST | at 8.52pm BST |
| 8.41pm BST | 8.41pm BST |
| 20:41 | 20:41 |
| Governor: historic flooding in Jacksonville | Governor: historic flooding in Jacksonville |
| Florida governor Rick Scott is giving a briefing, not long after he traveled with rescue teams to the Florida Keys, which are still essentially cut off from the mainland. | Florida governor Rick Scott is giving a briefing, not long after he traveled with rescue teams to the Florida Keys, which are still essentially cut off from the mainland. |
| Scott takes stock of Irma’s damage. South-west Florida saw storm surges ranging from four to eight feet, and 10 feet in Monroe County, on the south-west tip and including the Keys. There was approximately four feet of surge in Miami-Dade, and three to six feet in the Big Bend area. | Scott takes stock of Irma’s damage. South-west Florida saw storm surges ranging from four to eight feet, and 10 feet in Monroe County, on the south-west tip and including the Keys. There was approximately four feet of surge in Miami-Dade, and three to six feet in the Big Bend area. |
| The storm is still pummeling Jacksonville and Orlando. In the latter, there’s flooding from waterway surges and more than a foot of torrential rains. In Jacksonville, there is “record and historical flooding along the St Johns river”, he says. | The storm is still pummeling Jacksonville and Orlando. In the latter, there’s flooding from waterway surges and more than a foot of torrential rains. In Jacksonville, there is “record and historical flooding along the St Johns river”, he says. |
| “The biggest threat as Irma leaves Florida is going to be river flooding.” | “The biggest threat as Irma leaves Florida is going to be river flooding.” |
| Scott’s relieved to say that the threat of tornadoes has diminished but says that if people don’t have to go out on the roads, “don’t get out.” | Scott’s relieved to say that the threat of tornadoes has diminished but says that if people don’t have to go out on the roads, “don’t get out.” |
| “We’ve got downed power lines all across the state, we’ve got debris all across the state,” he says. “Our goal again is don’t put anymore lives at risk. Don’t put any more lives at risk because of downed power lines, debris, and impassable roads.” | “We’ve got downed power lines all across the state, we’ve got debris all across the state,” he says. “Our goal again is don’t put anymore lives at risk. Don’t put any more lives at risk because of downed power lines, debris, and impassable roads.” |
| 8.26pm BST | 8.26pm BST |
| 20:26 | 20:26 |
| Ed Pilkington is in Everglades City, south of Naples, where floods are still severe. | Ed Pilkington is in Everglades City, south of Naples, where floods are still severe. |
| I’ve battled my way down the west coast of Florida through semi-flooded roads to Everglades City, a small crab fishing town of about 2,000. | I’ve battled my way down the west coast of Florida through semi-flooded roads to Everglades City, a small crab fishing town of about 2,000. |
| It was completely awash with water when the storm surge occurred after Irma past through here on Sunday. You can see the water marks up to about five feet on the walls of houses | It was completely awash with water when the storm surge occurred after Irma past through here on Sunday. You can see the water marks up to about five feet on the walls of houses |
| The City Hall is remarkably grand for a tiny community, but then it does pride itself as being “stone crab capital if the world”. Now it’s an island, encircled by a lapping pool. | The City Hall is remarkably grand for a tiny community, but then it does pride itself as being “stone crab capital if the world”. Now it’s an island, encircled by a lapping pool. |
| Journey through flooded Everglades City #Irma pic.twitter.com/mX6A51Tkvc | Journey through flooded Everglades City #Irma pic.twitter.com/mX6A51Tkvc |
| Lynn Stokes gave me a ride the last stretch of the way in a giant truck as the roads were too deep in water. She runs an airport service for tourists wanting to see the Everglades. It has a two-inch carpet of mud inside it, deposited after the waters came and receded. | Lynn Stokes gave me a ride the last stretch of the way in a giant truck as the roads were too deep in water. She runs an airport service for tourists wanting to see the Everglades. It has a two-inch carpet of mud inside it, deposited after the waters came and receded. |
| She said she was struck that the last time the town had been completely flooded like this was on exactly the same day 60 years ago – 10 September 1957 – with Hurricane Donna. | She said she was struck that the last time the town had been completely flooded like this was on exactly the same day 60 years ago – 10 September 1957 – with Hurricane Donna. |
| And how’s she feeling? “Oh man this is a mess. Oh my god there’s a lot to clean.” | And how’s she feeling? “Oh man this is a mess. Oh my god there’s a lot to clean.” |
| Downed power lines in southern Florida - big mess pic.twitter.com/WWfGt4zKHP | Downed power lines in southern Florida - big mess pic.twitter.com/WWfGt4zKHP |
| 8.13pm BST | 8.13pm BST |
| 20:13 | 20:13 |
| White House: Keys access and power could take weeks | White House: Keys access and power could take weeks |
| Federal rescue crews are extremely cocnerned about flooding in Jacksonville and the Florida Keys, homeland security adviser Thomas Bossert has told reporters at the White House. | Federal rescue crews are extremely cocnerned about flooding in Jacksonville and the Florida Keys, homeland security adviser Thomas Bossert has told reporters at the White House. |
| Bossert also says it could take weeks to bring power back to all of Florida, calling the effort “the largest mobilization of line restoration workers” in US history. Workers from every company in the country, and from Canada, are part of the restoration plan of plants, subplants, poles and lines. | Bossert also says it could take weeks to bring power back to all of Florida, calling the effort “the largest mobilization of line restoration workers” in US history. Workers from every company in the country, and from Canada, are part of the restoration plan of plants, subplants, poles and lines. |
| The Florida Keys, he says, “are going to take a while”. He estimates that the Keys will not be “fit for re-entry for regular citizens for weeks”. | The Florida Keys, he says, “are going to take a while”. He estimates that the Keys will not be “fit for re-entry for regular citizens for weeks”. |
| He admits he could be wrong, and local officials may let people return sooner, but stresses that officials have to asses miles of bridges for structural damage. He hopes most people heeded warnings to get off the islands, but says he would not be surprised if people were found dead on the archipelago. | He admits he could be wrong, and local officials may let people return sooner, but stresses that officials have to asses miles of bridges for structural damage. He hopes most people heeded warnings to get off the islands, but says he would not be surprised if people were found dead on the archipelago. |
| “We’re going to get back down there as soon as we humanly can.” | “We’re going to get back down there as soon as we humanly can.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.17pm BST | at 8.17pm BST |
| 7.53pm BST | 7.53pm BST |
| 19:53 | 19:53 |
| Irma so far | Irma so far |
| Irma battered northern Florida on a course toward Georgia, but slowed to a tropical storm, with sustained winds of 65mph. Gusts in excess of 60mph could be felt as far away as the metro Atlanta area. | Irma battered northern Florida on a course toward Georgia, but slowed to a tropical storm, with sustained winds of 65mph. Gusts in excess of 60mph could be felt as far away as the metro Atlanta area. |
| A flash flood warning was issued for Jacksonvillille, where record flooding was recorded on the St Johns River. Video showed the water spilling over harbor walls and entering homes and offices. Police urged residents to shelter in higher floors and to hang a white blanket or T-shirt outside a window if they’re in need of rescue. | A flash flood warning was issued for Jacksonvillille, where record flooding was recorded on the St Johns River. Video showed the water spilling over harbor walls and entering homes and offices. Police urged residents to shelter in higher floors and to hang a white blanket or T-shirt outside a window if they’re in need of rescue. |
| At least 6.5 million homes and businesses lost power in Florida, nearly two-thirds of the state. More than 100,000 people waited out the storm in shelters. Large sections of Everglades City remain flooded, and authorities across south Flrodia urged residents to wait for the all-clear on roads and evacuation zones, given dangerous downed power lines, trees, and contaminated floodwaters. | At least 6.5 million homes and businesses lost power in Florida, nearly two-thirds of the state. More than 100,000 people waited out the storm in shelters. Large sections of Everglades City remain flooded, and authorities across south Flrodia urged residents to wait for the all-clear on roads and evacuation zones, given dangerous downed power lines, trees, and contaminated floodwaters. |
| City and county governments planned to re-open officially on Tuesday, though cleanup crews and inspectors were at work since dawn on Monday. For people without power, the state health department advised boiling tap water, avoiding floodwaters and tossing food that might quickly go bad. | City and county governments planned to re-open officially on Tuesday, though cleanup crews and inspectors were at work since dawn on Monday. For people without power, the state health department advised boiling tap water, avoiding floodwaters and tossing food that might quickly go bad. |
| The Florida Keys remain cut off except by air, with police blocking the only road to the islands until its safety could be assured. An unknown number of people remain trapped on the islands, despite evacuation orders. Military rescue efforts have begun. Aerial footage showed firetrucks swamped above their tires, boats tossed into buildings, and flooded neighborhoods. | The Florida Keys remain cut off except by air, with police blocking the only road to the islands until its safety could be assured. An unknown number of people remain trapped on the islands, despite evacuation orders. Military rescue efforts have begun. Aerial footage showed firetrucks swamped above their tires, boats tossed into buildings, and flooded neighborhoods. |
| At least 27 people have been confirmed killed in storm-related deaths around the Caribbean since Irma began its brutal journey from a category five monster and tore through Barbuda, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, French St Martin, the Bahamas and other islands. The Cuban government reported a tentative figure of 10 people killed, mostly in Havana’s coastal neighborhoods. | At least 27 people have been confirmed killed in storm-related deaths around the Caribbean since Irma began its brutal journey from a category five monster and tore through Barbuda, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, French St Martin, the Bahamas and other islands. The Cuban government reported a tentative figure of 10 people killed, mostly in Havana’s coastal neighborhoods. |
| The premier of the British Virgin Islands, Orlando Smith, has asked for immediate aid from the British government, saying the situation was “critical” . French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to visit the badly-hit French island of St Martin on Tuesday. | The premier of the British Virgin Islands, Orlando Smith, has asked for immediate aid from the British government, saying the situation was “critical” . French president Emmanuel Macron has promised to visit the badly-hit French island of St Martin on Tuesday. |
| The US sent several naval vessels with hundreds of marines and aid packages to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and south Florida. Britain has sent 500 British troops and sent aside £32m in aid to its territories. France has sent almost 1,000 medical, military and police personnel to the region. | The US sent several naval vessels with hundreds of marines and aid packages to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and south Florida. Britain has sent 500 British troops and sent aside £32m in aid to its territories. France has sent almost 1,000 medical, military and police personnel to the region. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.04pm BST | at 8.04pm BST |
| 7.16pm BST | 7.16pm BST |
| 19:16 | 19:16 |
| Ed Pilkington is in Everglades City, where the recovery will be slower and more difficult than in the south-eastern cities that were lucky enough to avoid the brunt of Irma’s floods. | Ed Pilkington is in Everglades City, where the recovery will be slower and more difficult than in the south-eastern cities that were lucky enough to avoid the brunt of Irma’s floods. |
| But the state’s department of health is trying to warn residents across the peninsula that they need to be extremely careful. Some of their guidance: | But the state’s department of health is trying to warn residents across the peninsula that they need to be extremely careful. Some of their guidance: |
| Dont eat food contaminated by floodwater. Use only boiled/bottled water. Discard frigerated/frozen food after 4hr power outage | Dont eat food contaminated by floodwater. Use only boiled/bottled water. Discard frigerated/frozen food after 4hr power outage |
| People & pets coming into contact with floodwaters should thoroughly wash & rinse any exposed body parts w/soap & disinfected water | People & pets coming into contact with floodwaters should thoroughly wash & rinse any exposed body parts w/soap & disinfected water |
| Cans of food should not be eaten if there is a bulging or opening on can or screw caps, soda bottle tops or twist-caps. | Cans of food should not be eaten if there is a bulging or opening on can or screw caps, soda bottle tops or twist-caps. |
| If heat exhaustion symptoms become more severe or last longer than one hour, seek medical attention immediately. | If heat exhaustion symptoms become more severe or last longer than one hour, seek medical attention immediately. |
| During Irma cleanup, drain standing water to preventing mosquito-borne Illness. Storms can lead to an increase in mosquitoes. | During Irma cleanup, drain standing water to preventing mosquito-borne Illness. Storms can lead to an increase in mosquitoes. |
| Everglades City Hall now an island surrounded by water #Irma pic.twitter.com/cR8tb0hx6j | Everglades City Hall now an island surrounded by water #Irma pic.twitter.com/cR8tb0hx6j |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.57pm BST | at 7.57pm BST |
| 6.50pm BST | 6.50pm BST |
| 18:50 | 18:50 |
| South eastern Florida has started its recovery, urging people to stay off the roads if possible while cleanup crews get to work. | South eastern Florida has started its recovery, urging people to stay off the roads if possible while cleanup crews get to work. |
| South western Florida still has floodwaters in some areas, for instance Everglades City, south of Naples. Ed Pilkington is there for the Guardian, trying to see the extent of the storm’s damage and whether anyone stayed behind. | South western Florida still has floodwaters in some areas, for instance Everglades City, south of Naples. Ed Pilkington is there for the Guardian, trying to see the extent of the storm’s damage and whether anyone stayed behind. |
| Everglades City under water #Irma pic.twitter.com/BdisCxSESr | Everglades City under water #Irma pic.twitter.com/BdisCxSESr |
| Massive trees taking over the streets of Naples. This is why they ask folks to stay off the streets and wait it out. #HurricaneIrma @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/mldyrdlIoi | Massive trees taking over the streets of Naples. This is why they ask folks to stay off the streets and wait it out. #HurricaneIrma @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/mldyrdlIoi |
| 6.39pm BST | 6.39pm BST |
| 18:39 | 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. | 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. | 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 | A familiar sight for many fleeing Irma in FL, many gas stations are now beginning to reopen pic.twitter.com/gWPPtONoKG |
| 6.36pm BST | 6.36pm BST |
| 18:36 | 18:36 |
| “Miami Beach didn’t dodge a bullet, we dodged a cannon,” the city’s mayor Philip Levine has told CNN. | “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.” | “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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | Irma flattened the tiki hut at the Cove Inn. pic.twitter.com/f0QplNHg7p |