Hurricane Matthew Update: President Obama Declares State of Emergency in Florida

President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency for Florida before Hurricane Matthew arrives at the South and Eastern coasts. The declaration paves the way for federal aid, as well as state and local emergency response teams, which was requested by Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Forecasters said the Category 4 hurricane could make landfall Thursday night and brings with it wind speeds exceeding 110 MPH.

“While the federal government has just approved our request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for food, water and tarps, I am asking the President for additional generators and pumps to help with power outages and flooding once the storm hits,” Gov. Scott said in a statement. “Following the most recent weather briefing from the National Hurricane Center, we can expect to have a lot of flooding, especially in Northeast Florida, and we will need additional pumping equipment from the federal government.”

Officials say Hurricane Matthew’s top wind speed hit 140 mph midday and the storm was moving northwest at around 14 mph between Andros Island and Nassau in the Bahamas. Forecasting models predicted the storm could ride up the coast all the way to South Carolina. Local officials told Reuters the death toll from Hurricane Matthew has risen to at least 136 in Haiti, where it passed over before heading toward Florida.

“When a hurricane is forecast to take a track roughly parallel to a coastline, as Matthew is forecast to do from Florida through South Carolina, it becomes very difficult to specify impacts at any one location,” National Hurricane Center forecaster Lixion Avila said.

The Florida governor made clear that the “time is up” for those in evacuation zones to leave and if you go outside after 8:00 p.m. Thursday, then you are on your own. If you choose to ride the storm out, which you SHOULD NOT, then make sure to have at least three days of food and water on hand.

“This thing is getting close to our coast, you better be ready before,” he said. “If it turns at the last minute, you’re not going to have time to get ready. You’re not going to be able to get your food and water. You’re not going to be able to evacuate. You’re going to put you and your family’s life at risk.”

Below is a list of the evacuation zones.

CURRENT EVACUATIONS

• Brevard County: Mandatory Evacuations of Merritt Island, barrier island, low-lying areas and mobile homes.
• Broward County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for mobile homes and low lying areas.
• Clay County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
• DeSoto County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for manufactured homes, RVs and low lying areas.
• Duval County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
• Flagler County: Mandatory evacuations have begun.
• Indian River: Mandatory evacuations have begun for barrier islands, mobile homes, and low lying areas.
• Martin County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for barrier islands, low-lying areas, and mobile homes.
• Miami-Dade County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for mobile homes, low-lying, and unstable structures.
• Nassau County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
• Palm Beach County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for barrier islands, mobile homes, substandard housing, flood prone areas, and those living in high rises close to the Intracoastal Waterway. Mandatory evacuations begin today.
• Johns County: Mandatory evacuation orders have begun.
• Lucie County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for barrier islands, mobile homes, and low lying areas.  Mandatory evacuations begin today.
• Volusia County: Mandatory evacuations have begun for barrier islands, low-lying areas, and mobile homes.

Floridians and visitors can go to FloridaEvacuates.com or download the Florida-Evacuates app to enter their location and see shelters available in their area. Gov. Scott and officials also wanted to stress to new Floridians who may not have experienced a storm of this magnitude, DO NOT underestimate it’s power. This is not a joke or a storm that should be taken lightly.

In Seminole County, there is a mandatory curfew from 5:00 a.m. Friday until 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. Gov. Scott has also suspended tolls on several major roads, including the Florida Turnpike, Alligator Alley and roads apart of the Central Florida Expressway Authority and the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.

“Protecting lives remains our number one priority and that is why I have now activated over half of the National Guard who will play a big role in important life-saving missions,” the governor said. “I have directed them to focus on prepositioning resources, assist with helping people evacuate safely and our sheltering operations.”