Florida, ripped through marco island, sana bell, naples and heading north towards cape coral the target later tonight, the city of tampa and st. Pete. Ordering mandatory curfews for residents at this hour as the storm spawned several possible tornadoes throughout the state and many waiting for the dreaded storm surge, the killer water slamming in from the backside in the gulf. Janice dean has been following this all day. Whats the latest status that the hour . I will get you the latest but want to show you five days ago how well the National Hurricane center predicted this storm. This was their kohn five days ago. Look at the center of where the storm went, over cuba and into southwest florida. Now there was a shift in the cone days out, but this is remarkably amazing forecasting. So, of course, hats off to the National Hurricane center who do an amazing job tirelessly day in and day out to try to save folks, thats exactly what theyre doing. Good work for them. Looking at the radar, so
Islands, killing 23 people. The destructive high winds and the storm surge pounding cuba today and of course the state of florida is now stranger to hurricanes. 40 of hurricanes hitting the u. S. Between 1851 and 2010, they slammed into floridas coast. Thats 114 hurricanes in 160 years. But its this storm, this storm irma, its the strongest seen in florida in 13 years. Now, officials predict millions will potentially be without power here for weeks after irma strikes. Once the storm starts, Law Enforcement cannot save you. Were already seeing this water pick up considerably. We dont know where to go. You go to tampa . Well, tampas getting hit hard. We dont know where to go. So here, i think, was a safe place to stay. Dont think that, oh, okay, if i live on the eastern side of florida, im home free. Youre not. This is a big deal. Any minute now, we expect to hear from President Trump and his full cabinet after they receive a full briefing, they are at camp david, and theyve been followi
It looks like there is a traffic jam as we have been watching. Big earth movers are getting the sand irma spread across u. S. 1. Those are all First Responders and supply chaps and there might be residents trying to make their way south. This is about the limit to where you can drive. When we kim in, it was obvious what kind of damage the waves did. That storm surge. Wind damage on the roofs. For those familiar with this stretch of u. S. 1, there used to be a popular restaurant called mr. Lobster that is completely gone. Most of it is scattered on the other side of this harbor. As rod pans over, you can see the shipping containers that used to hold the seafood and the kitchens for that place. You can see they were pushed across and they are sunken boats all through the canal here. Sea grass and lobster traps from the oceanside blown over the highway into peoples yards. Some boats are shoved up into the area and the good news is we are seeing so much activity here. Proof of life. As we
Fate of so many in the caribbean who lost everything. You can see just how enormous this hurricane is from space, right behind it, hurricane jose, about to bring more havoc to already hardhit areas by irma. Elizabeth thanks for joining us. Welcome to this special threehour edition of americas news headquarters from washington. Im elizabeth prann. Leland its going to be a very long weekend for folks down in florida and beyond. Nice to be with you, great to be with you at home. A lot of Team Coverage here, im leland vittert. Were awaiting a News Conference from governor rick scott who is going to be in rare park, florida, and hes checking on preparations and already 7,000 natural guard troops called up, back to the governor in minutes. Miami beach, high winds and rain are lashing the beach. Hurricane irma is 22 miles south of miami and barrelling toward the florida coast after literally flattening a number of caribbean islands. The storm has been downgraded to a category 3, but the offic
Family. [inaudible] abby Hurricane Irma an hour away now from the eye of the storm making landfall on the west coast now bracing. Hundreds of thousands of the entire mayor. Sustained winds of 130 Miles Per Hour and could reach 15 feet in some areas. Others are forced to stay behind. Team coverage this morning. Pete with Griff Jenkins on the ground right now. Reporter in naples the wind is terrible. Its about 25 come in maybe 30 miles, but it coming and key west which is just minutes away from a direct impact with 130mile per hour winds are near to the west coast. They are hunkered down. Officials here describing it as a worstCase Scenario because you will have high wind combined with storm surge. The mayor telling me the biggest concern is storm surge. The west coast of florida will take the water row. Just behind me to bring it back in. Upwards of 15 feet above ground level search starts hitting here, it is going to absolutely flood everything and you do not want to be there. Thats wh