The State Of Emergency at this hour. In just ten hours time, from 2 00 a. M. To noon today, Hurricane Milton growing from a category 1 hurricane to a Category 5. The strongest hurricane in the gulf in nearly two decades now. Authorities expecting major damage in florida. Mass evacuations now under way along the florida coast. Tampa bay among the Areas Bricing for a severe impact. And this hurricane threatening an historic Storm Surge, up to 15 feet in some areas. Ginger zee standing by, shes live in florida with the new forecast just from the national hurricane center. Also breaking as we come on tonight, amid this tragedy unfolding already from Hurricane Helene, the Death Toll now at least 230, the national Guard And Fema on the ground for days now, and tonight, theyre also now dealing with false claims and Conspiracy Theories being pushed by former President Trump. Republican Senator Thom Tillis making it clear border issues are not affecting aid in North Carolina. And just moments a
Category 5 storm and taking dead aim at florida. Milton rapidly strengthening over the past 24 hours, now packing winds of 180 miles per hour. The strongest hurricane of the Gulf Of Mexico in nearly 20 years. In florida a state of emergency. Storm surge warnings up to 15 feet. The race to get out. Mandatory evacuations. Al roker has the new track for us tonight. It comes as florida and the southeast are still reeling from hurricane Helenes Blast just 11 days ago. Thousands still without water. Were with the National Guard on an urgent mission to deliver relief. And in tennessee growing questions at a Plastic Factory where nearly a dozen workers were swept away. Also tonight, the solemn ceremonies as israel marks a year since the deadly hamas Terror Attack. Here in the u. S. The memorials for the victims and the hostages. And protests returning to campus as the deadly war expands to new fronts. The race for the White House with just 29 days to go Kamala Harris launching a media blitz. A
Were on the west coast but the effects of Hurricane Irma are being felt all over this state still. Theres a lot to report over the next two hours. Were going to be focusing on what happened in the caribbean where the storm has passed by the misery is remaining. There are now 16 deaths in the United States contributed to the storm. Twelve of them here in the states and at least others in the caribbean. Fema estimates 19 homes were damaged or completely destroyed. Over the next two hours well hear from survivors who rode out the storm and people who coming home to see whats left behind or not left. Virgin islands, the people there have told us theyre feeling neglected. The three largest islands in the virgin islands, st. Kroiks, st. Thomas. Here in the western side, they are shooting for september 22nd, thats next friday. More on that situation in a moment. First, we want to start in the keys. Lisa, is a nurse who wrote out the storm in key west. I spoke to her by phone a few moments ago
look up close. this business apparently in the 180-mile-per-hour winds just collapsed on to it. you can see it here, what this was is not decipherable of what s left here. but let me take you to this side because the only thing left here are stairs and the beginning of a porch. i can t even tell what was here, those winds were so strong. for nine hours, from one point from the eye of dorian approached abaco, came on land, to the other side of the eye, exited, nine hours those winds were here with gusts up to 225 miles per hour. as far you can see from marsh harbor, there is damaged. this area is decimated and it will take a long time to rebuild. victor, thank you so much. i know you watch this and think you want to do something but you
the more white we see, the more intense the storm could still become. i know it s close to land right now, but it s in the gulf stream. it s in the warmest water out there in the atlantic other than what was in the bahamas. category 2, category 2, category 2 making a run at charleston for tomorrow, pushing a lot of water into charleston harbor. same story for tybee. same story as we work our way into hilton head. so there will be water pushing onshore. that s the storm surge. here s the latest radar. still trying to get the middle part of the eye. it gulped in a bunch of dry air overnight, which really helped out. it just tore the entire thing apart. didn t have an eye, looked horrible when i walked in this morning. we re thinking, this is over, this is done. now that it s back over the water, it s trying to reintensify. so maybe it isn t quite done, but it isn t ever going to be 180-mile-per-hour storm again. it will still be packing a punch. it will still be packing a pretty decent,