TV grab
WEB DESK
Hurricane Irma gained strength early Sunday as edged closer to Florida. It gained momentum and strengthened to a Category 4 storm around 2 a.m., according to the US National Hurricane Center.
As of 4 a.m,, Irma was 55 miles away from Key West, traveling northwest at 6 mph with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph.
The hurricane’s eye was expected to cross the Lower Florida Keys during the next several hours, the National Hurricane Center said at 2 a.m.
“It looks as if the destructive eyewall of Hurricane #Irma will overspread the Lower #FLKeys between 7-8 am EDT,” the National Weather Services’ Key West office tweeted at 4:25 a.m.
On Saturday evening, Gov. Rick Scott of Florida warned that the state could get as much as 18 inches of rain, with the Keys getting up to 25 inches. Southwest Florida could see a storm surge of 15 feet above ground level, and entire neighborhoods stretching northward from Naples to Tampa Bay could be submerged.
“If you have been ordered to evacuate, you need to leave now,” Mr. Scott said at a 6 p.m. news conference. “This is your last chance to make a good decision.”
After crossing the Keys on Sunday, the storm was expected to move up the west coast of Florida before reaching Georgia on Monday afternoon.
Irma made landfall in Cuba on Friday evening as a Category 5 hurricane, lashing the island’s northern coast with a direct hit, before losing some of its force later. It was the first Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in Cuba since 1924.
At least 24 people are so far known to have died as Hurricane Irma progressed across the Caribbean throughout the week.
MILITARY SUPPORT
Florida Governor Scott has activated the entire force of the Florida Army and Air National Guard – 7,000 guard members – to support with planning, and logistics operations in preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Irma. These members are stationing across the state and actively assisting with preparation efforts. The Florida National Guard has 1,000 high water vehicles, 13 helicopters, 17 boats and more than 700 generators on standby.
The Florida National Guard is coordinating a multi-state response focused on planning and preparation of thousands of forces available to enhance security and support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. States that have deployed troops or are positioning support include North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Connecticut, Mississippi and New Jersey.
The Florida National Guard is coordinating with the National Guard Bureau to identify approximately 30,000 troops, 4,000 trucks, 100 helicopters, and air evacuation crews that are standing by for Hurricane Irma support, if needed.
The Florida National Guard is currently engaged in more than 100 shelter missions across the state.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has more than 200 officers standing by for the first wave of response based on potential storm impacts. Thirty teams with supporting resources such as trucks, coastal and river patrol boats, ATVs and shallow draft boats are preparing for evacuation support, search and rescue missions, or any additional needs.
FWC has over 500 law enforcement vessels standing ready.
FWC has reached out to partners in 10 other states to make plans in case additional resources are needed in response to Hurricane Irma. Texas Parks and Wildlife will join the response today with 60 officers and 20 boats. Other states that have already volunteered to help include Georgia, Mississippi, Delaware, South Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania.
FDLE established 18 emergency response teams for deployment to impacted areas. FDLE regions in impacted areas are operating Regional Law Enforcement Coordination Teams in advance of the storm to assist local law enforcement with any needs. Seven logistics teams have been established to assist with planning before and after the storm. FDLE regions are helping staff local emergency operations centers.
The entire Florida Highway Patrol, approximately 1,700 troopers, is on 12-hour shifts, with the primary mission to assist emergency preparedness and response.
FHP continues to conduct emergency missions, including numerous fuel truck escorts to various locations including Ft. Pierce, Wellington, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Port Everglades and Ft. Myers. FHP is also escorting a DOH disaster response communications trailer and coordinating multiple requests from local sheriffs for assistance with evacuation efforts that are beyond their resources.
In addition to these missions, all 10 FHP troops across Florida have a 33-person Quick Response Force (QRF) team, for a total of 330 troopers, on standby for response where needed. FHP is pre-deploying one team to the Ft. Myers area for quick response after landfall with follow up teams available once the storm track/landfall is determined.
Additionally, all special equipment such as command posts and high water recovery vehicles have been prepared for quick deployment after landfall to assist with recovery and road clearance efforts.
The division of Motorist Services has its Florida Licensing on Wheels (FLOW) mobiles on standby and will deploy them to impacted areas as needed.
Though state offices were closed yesterday, DHSMV’s Customer Service Call Center assisted 983 customers and Field Support Help Desk handled 70 calls from stakeholders. This service provided customers or tax collectors assistance as they prepare for the hurricane.
Florida Incident Management Teams (IMT) are mobilizing to provide overall statewide command and control for all Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) and lifesaving operations.
FEMA Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) teams are in route to staging areas for rapid deployment behind Hurricane Irma, including additional teams standing by in Georgia for deployment.