United States: Evacuations ordered for Florida Keys ahead of Hurricane Irma

Event

Hurricane Irma strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of nearly 300 kph (185 mph) on Tuesday, September 5. As of 13:45 ET, the center of Hurricane Irma is roughly 320 km (200 mi) east of the Leeward Islands, and it is moving west at 22.5 kph (14 mph).

Local officials in the Florida Keys (Monroe County) issued mandatory evacuations for tourists and residents on Tuesday, September 5. Tourists are ordered to leave the Florida Keys beginning at 07:00 (local time) on Wednesday, September 6. Residents of the Florida Keys are ordered to evacuate beginning at 19:00 (local time) on Wednesday. Additionally, evacuations for Miami-Dade county will begin Wednesday; county offices and public schools will be closed at least on Thursday, September 7, and Friday, September 8. Hurricane watches are yet to be issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as it is too soon to determine the full impact of Irma on the peninsula. Current NOAA forecasts predict that Hurricane Irma may reach Florida by Sunday, September 10. Florida Governor Rick Scott preemptively declared a state of emergency for the state of Florida on Monday.

Context

Hurricane Irma is currently making its way through the Atlantic Ocean and nearing the Caribbean, as of September 5. The storm is expected to make landfall early Wednesday, September 6, on the island of Anguilla. Hurricane warnings are currently in place for the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saba, St Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St Martin, St Barths, British Virgin Islands, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Vieques and Culebra. There is also a hurricane watch in Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic (from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti), Haiti (from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas), Turks and Caicos, and the southeastern Bahamas. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Guadeloupe and Dominica. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Dominican Republic (from south of Cabo Engao to Isla Saona) and Haiti (from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-au-Prince).

Advice

Individuals present in Florida are advised to keep abreast of weather alerts, confirm travel reservations, avoid coastal areas due to the risk of flooding, and adhere to all advice issued by the local authorities.

Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous; 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult. Finally, because floodwater may also contain wastewater or chemical products, wear boots and try to avoid any contact with the water. All items having come into contact with the water should be washed and disinfected. Dispose of any food that may have come into contact with floodwater.