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| Hurricane Irma Live Updates: ‘Way Bigger Than Andrew,’ Florida Governor Warns | Hurricane Irma Live Updates: ‘Way Bigger Than Andrew,’ Florida Governor Warns |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| As Hurricane Irma pushed through the Bahamas and onto Cuba on Friday, officials in the United States ramped up the urgency and depth of their warnings to get to safety before its destructive winds and storm surges arrive there Saturday. | As Hurricane Irma pushed through the Bahamas and onto Cuba on Friday, officials in the United States ramped up the urgency and depth of their warnings to get to safety before its destructive winds and storm surges arrive there Saturday. |
| Irma, downgraded to category 4 storm, continued its destructive churn through the Caribbean overnight, with Turks and Caicos the latest to be swamped. Further east, residents in places like Barbuda and St. Martin braced for another hit in the coming days from Hurricane José, which was upgraded a category 4 storm. | Irma, downgraded to category 4 storm, continued its destructive churn through the Caribbean overnight, with Turks and Caicos the latest to be swamped. Further east, residents in places like Barbuda and St. Martin braced for another hit in the coming days from Hurricane José, which was upgraded a category 4 storm. |
| Officials are cautioning Florida residents steeled by prior hurricanes to not underestimate Irma, which Gov. Rick Scott said would be “way bigger than Andrew,” referring to the major storm that hit the state in 1992. Brock Long, the FEMA administrator, cautioned that everyone in the Southeast United States, from Alabama to North Carolina, should be monitoring the storm and making preparations. | Officials are cautioning Florida residents steeled by prior hurricanes to not underestimate Irma, which Gov. Rick Scott said would be “way bigger than Andrew,” referring to the major storm that hit the state in 1992. Brock Long, the FEMA administrator, cautioned that everyone in the Southeast United States, from Alabama to North Carolina, should be monitoring the storm and making preparations. |
| “I can guarantee you that I don’t know anybody in Florida who’s ever experienced what’s about to hit South Florida,” Mr. Long said on Friday. | “I can guarantee you that I don’t know anybody in Florida who’s ever experienced what’s about to hit South Florida,” Mr. Long said on Friday. |
| Here’s the latest: | Here’s the latest: |
| • The National Hurricane Center said Irma remained “extremely dangerous,” with winds of 150 miles per hour, and the Florida Keys were at risk of “life-threatening inundation.” Check out our maps tracking the storm. | • The National Hurricane Center said Irma remained “extremely dangerous,” with winds of 150 miles per hour, and the Florida Keys were at risk of “life-threatening inundation.” Check out our maps tracking the storm. |
| • Ferocious winds and rain could hit the Florida Keys by late Saturday, with the hurricane reaching heavily populated areas of South Florida on Sunday morning. | • Ferocious winds and rain could hit the Florida Keys by late Saturday, with the hurricane reaching heavily populated areas of South Florida on Sunday morning. |
| • The hurricane battered the Turks and Caicos Islands early Friday as it headed toward the southeastern Bahamas, where 20-foot storm surges are expected. Tourists on Cuba’s northern coast were also evacuated. | • The hurricane battered the Turks and Caicos Islands early Friday as it headed toward the southeastern Bahamas, where 20-foot storm surges are expected. Tourists on Cuba’s northern coast were also evacuated. |
| • At least 19 people have died because of the storm: nine in the French Caribbean, four in the United States Virgin Islands, three in Puerto Rico, one on the Dutch side of St. Martin, one in Barbuda and one in Anguilla. | • At least 19 people have died because of the storm: nine in the French Caribbean, four in the United States Virgin Islands, three in Puerto Rico, one on the Dutch side of St. Martin, one in Barbuda and one in Anguilla. |
| • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for hurricane news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. | • Sign up for the Morning Briefing for hurricane news and a daily look at what you need to know to begin your day. |
| Irma lashed the southern Bahamas on Friday with intense winds and rain, leaving a trail of downed trees and power lines, damaged roofs and scattered debris. | Irma lashed the southern Bahamas on Friday with intense winds and rain, leaving a trail of downed trees and power lines, damaged roofs and scattered debris. |
| Mayaguana and Inagua were among the first Bahamian islands to feel the impact. “It was very loud, you could hear the debris flying around crashing into buildings,” said Marcus Sands, an assistant superintendent with the police in Abraham’s Bay, Mayaguana’s main settlement. | Mayaguana and Inagua were among the first Bahamian islands to feel the impact. “It was very loud, you could hear the debris flying around crashing into buildings,” said Marcus Sands, an assistant superintendent with the police in Abraham’s Bay, Mayaguana’s main settlement. |
| Irma is among the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean and one of the five most forceful storms to hit the Atlantic basin in 82 years, according to the National Hurricane Center. | Irma is among the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean and one of the five most forceful storms to hit the Atlantic basin in 82 years, according to the National Hurricane Center. |
| It had been a Category 5 storm, but at 5 a.m. Eastern the center downgraded it based on the lower intensity of sustained winds. | It had been a Category 5 storm, but at 5 a.m. Eastern the center downgraded it based on the lower intensity of sustained winds. |
| Storm surges as high as 15 to 20 feet were expected in Turks and Caicos, and in the southeastern and central Bahamas; five to 10 feet on the northern coast of Cuba and the northwestern Bahamas; and one to three feet on the northern coast of Haiti. | Storm surges as high as 15 to 20 feet were expected in Turks and Caicos, and in the southeastern and central Bahamas; five to 10 feet on the northern coast of Cuba and the northwestern Bahamas; and one to three feet on the northern coast of Haiti. |
| Much of the South Florida coast, including the Keys, could face up to five to 10 feet of storm surge. | Much of the South Florida coast, including the Keys, could face up to five to 10 feet of storm surge. |
| At a news conference on Friday morning, Governor Scott cautioned that “we will quickly run out of good weather to evacuate.” He asked gas stations to stay open as long as possible, pledging that employees would have police escorts home, and asked other private business owners to “please be compassionate with your employees as they prepare for this storm.” | At a news conference on Friday morning, Governor Scott cautioned that “we will quickly run out of good weather to evacuate.” He asked gas stations to stay open as long as possible, pledging that employees would have police escorts home, and asked other private business owners to “please be compassionate with your employees as they prepare for this storm.” |
| “This storm is wider than our entire state and is expected to cause major and life-threatening impacts from coast to coast,” he said. | “This storm is wider than our entire state and is expected to cause major and life-threatening impacts from coast to coast,” he said. |
| A storm-surge warning was in effect across much of South Florida — from the Jupiter Inlet on the Atlantic coast to Bonita Beach on the Gulf of Mexico — including the Keys. | A storm-surge warning was in effect across much of South Florida — from the Jupiter Inlet on the Atlantic coast to Bonita Beach on the Gulf of Mexico — including the Keys. |
| In Florida, voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders were in place in Miami-Dade County, the Keys and portions of numerous other counties. “Today is the day to do the right thing for your family and get inland to safety,” Governor Scott said. | |
| In Miami Beach, workers prepared for the coming storm by boarding up windows on Friday morning on many of the iconic Art Deco hotels. | |
| While thousands have evacuated for safer areas, it was unclear how many people had decided to ride out the storm, only hundreds of yards from the beach, but we found several in South Beach. | |
| A mandatory evacuation was to begin on Saturday on Georgia’s Atlantic Coast, Gov. Nathan Deal said. The Georgia Ports Authority said the ports of Savannah, the fourth-largest container port in the United States, and Brunswick would be closed starting Saturday. | A mandatory evacuation was to begin on Saturday on Georgia’s Atlantic Coast, Gov. Nathan Deal said. The Georgia Ports Authority said the ports of Savannah, the fourth-largest container port in the United States, and Brunswick would be closed starting Saturday. |
| . | . |
| The island of Barbuda — where nearly all buildings were reduced “to rubble,” according to Prime Minister Gaston Browne — braced for new hardship, in the form of Hurricane José. The storm charged toward the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda and neighboring islands. Antigua and Barbuda’s attorney general and minister of public safety, Steadroy Benjamin, issued a mandatory evacuation order for Barbuda, meaning every citizen will be transported to Antigua. | |
| José is expected to make landfall on Saturday, bringing winds of up to 125 m.p.h. to the islands, threatening those whose homes were lost or damaged by the earlier storm. | José is expected to make landfall on Saturday, bringing winds of up to 125 m.p.h. to the islands, threatening those whose homes were lost or damaged by the earlier storm. |
| “I actually was just visiting family in Barbuda. I’m from New York,” Teline Charles, 33, said. “I never experienced anything like that. The roof came off during the storm and we actually had to leave the house and run into the car until the eye came and then ran for better shelter.” | “I actually was just visiting family in Barbuda. I’m from New York,” Teline Charles, 33, said. “I never experienced anything like that. The roof came off during the storm and we actually had to leave the house and run into the car until the eye came and then ran for better shelter.” |
| The islands of St. Martin, St. Barthélemy and Anguilla, which were also battered by Irma, were also under a hurricane watch for José. | The islands of St. Martin, St. Barthélemy and Anguilla, which were also battered by Irma, were also under a hurricane watch for José. |
| John McKendrick, the attorney general of Anguilla, said on Thursday that the island had suffered “huge devastation” from the first storm. | John McKendrick, the attorney general of Anguilla, said on Thursday that the island had suffered “huge devastation” from the first storm. |
| Up to 90 percent of the homes on the island were damaged, fallen trees blocked many roads, cellphone service was interrupted and electrical service was cut. The entire island was still without power midday Thursday, he said. | Up to 90 percent of the homes on the island were damaged, fallen trees blocked many roads, cellphone service was interrupted and electrical service was cut. The entire island was still without power midday Thursday, he said. |
| In addition, the ports and the airport remained closed because of damage. St. Martin was dealing with a similar level of devastation. | In addition, the ports and the airport remained closed because of damage. St. Martin was dealing with a similar level of devastation. |
| Other parts of the Caribbean that braced for Irma’s wrath were bypassed by the worst of the storm, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola. Damage from flooding and power outages was reported on the Haitian side. Three people were killed in Puerto Rico, and around two-thirds of the population lost electricity, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said. | Other parts of the Caribbean that braced for Irma’s wrath were bypassed by the worst of the storm, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola. Damage from flooding and power outages was reported on the Haitian side. Three people were killed in Puerto Rico, and around two-thirds of the population lost electricity, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said. |
| Cuba started evacuating some of the 51,000 tourists visiting the island, particularly 36,000 people at resorts on the northern coast. | Cuba started evacuating some of the 51,000 tourists visiting the island, particularly 36,000 people at resorts on the northern coast. |
| In the United States Virgin Islands, the hurricane caused the deaths of four people, tore the roofs off many homes and businesses, knocked down power lines, flooded two shelters and caused “catastrophic failures” at the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital. | In the United States Virgin Islands, the hurricane caused the deaths of four people, tore the roofs off many homes and businesses, knocked down power lines, flooded two shelters and caused “catastrophic failures” at the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital. |
| Tom Price, the health and human services secretary, said Friday that the hospital was closing and its patients were being transported to facilities on other islands. | Tom Price, the health and human services secretary, said Friday that the hospital was closing and its patients were being transported to facilities on other islands. |
| As of Friday, the full impact — particularly on the islands of St. Thomas and St. John — was still being assessed, but officials confirmed that at least four people had died. | As of Friday, the full impact — particularly on the islands of St. Thomas and St. John — was still being assessed, but officials confirmed that at least four people had died. |
| President Trump declared a disaster in the United States Virgin Islands, freeing up federal aid to the territory. | President Trump declared a disaster in the United States Virgin Islands, freeing up federal aid to the territory. |
| Several of the places hit hardest by the storm are territories of Britain, France or the Netherlands, and the speed of the response from European governments has at times come under criticism. | Several of the places hit hardest by the storm are territories of Britain, France or the Netherlands, and the speed of the response from European governments has at times come under criticism. |
| The British government has been accused of providing a lackluster response to the crisis, particularly compared with the responses of the French and Dutch governments. Among the most vociferous critics was the former British representative to Anguilla, Dorothea Hodge, who called the government’s reaction “pathetic” and “disgraceful,” according to The Guardian. | The British government has been accused of providing a lackluster response to the crisis, particularly compared with the responses of the French and Dutch governments. Among the most vociferous critics was the former British representative to Anguilla, Dorothea Hodge, who called the government’s reaction “pathetic” and “disgraceful,” according to The Guardian. |
| Early Thursday, John McKendrick, Anguilla’s attorney general, also prodded the British government, writing on Twitter: “Responses need to speed up. #Anguilla needs urgent assistance.” | Early Thursday, John McKendrick, Anguilla’s attorney general, also prodded the British government, writing on Twitter: “Responses need to speed up. #Anguilla needs urgent assistance.” |
| Later Thursday, he said in the interview, “Things are happening.” But he added: “Britain has a constitutional and moral obligation to its overseas territories to make sure they’re rebuilt and they’re safe.” | Later Thursday, he said in the interview, “Things are happening.” But he added: “Britain has a constitutional and moral obligation to its overseas territories to make sure they’re rebuilt and they’re safe.” |
| On Friday, Britain’s foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, announced an aid package of 32 million pounds, or about $42 million, on Friday, and said that British troops, diplomats and aid workers were en route. An amphibious warship, the Mounts Bay, will be moving from Anguilla to the British Virgin Islands to distribute aid there, he said. | On Friday, Britain’s foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, announced an aid package of 32 million pounds, or about $42 million, on Friday, and said that British troops, diplomats and aid workers were en route. An amphibious warship, the Mounts Bay, will be moving from Anguilla to the British Virgin Islands to distribute aid there, he said. |
| An amphibious assault ship, the Ocean, has also been deployed to the region. | An amphibious assault ship, the Ocean, has also been deployed to the region. |
| The king of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, will fly to the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao on Sunday to inspect the coordination of relief efforts for the Dutch side of St. Martin, the palace announced on Friday. | The king of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, will fly to the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao on Sunday to inspect the coordination of relief efforts for the Dutch side of St. Martin, the palace announced on Friday. |
| France’s interior minister, Gérard Collomb, said on Friday at a news conference in Paris that at least nine people had been killed by Hurricane Irma on the French islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, up from a previous toll of 4. | France’s interior minister, Gérard Collomb, said on Friday at a news conference in Paris that at least nine people had been killed by Hurricane Irma on the French islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, up from a previous toll of 4. |
| Seven people were missing and 112 were wounded, Mr. Collomb added. He said that the priority was still to rescue people, but also to re-establish order, after witnesses on the islands reported sporadic looting. | Seven people were missing and 112 were wounded, Mr. Collomb added. He said that the priority was still to rescue people, but also to re-establish order, after witnesses on the islands reported sporadic looting. |
| Mr. Collomb said that power on Saint Barthélemy was close to being restored and that on Saint Martin the hospital and town hall now had electricity. | Mr. Collomb said that power on Saint Barthélemy was close to being restored and that on Saint Martin the hospital and town hall now had electricity. |
| Mr. Collomb said that Hurricane Jose, which is coming on the heels of Hurricane Irma, would hit Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy over the weekend, complicating rescue operations there. | Mr. Collomb said that Hurricane Jose, which is coming on the heels of Hurricane Irma, would hit Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy over the weekend, complicating rescue operations there. |
| He added that Jose was expected to steer clear of Guadeloupe, a French island further to the south, which France is using as a base to coordinate aid and rescue operations. | He added that Jose was expected to steer clear of Guadeloupe, a French island further to the south, which France is using as a base to coordinate aid and rescue operations. |