This morning, September 10, a tropical hurricane Irma reached the Florida Keys as the storm of the 4th category.
According to the national hurricane center, the maximum winds in the center of the storm is about 130 mph (215 km/h).
As of 7 a.m. et, the hurricane was centered about 15 miles (25 kilometers) to the Southeast from Key West, Florida, and was moving Northwest at a speed of 8 mph (13 km/h).
Governor of Florida Rick Scott yesterday warned residents in the areas of evacuation that «this is their last chance to make the right decision.» Evacuation be about 6.4 million people, reports the Associated Press.
But since the hurricane has a width of 350 to 400 miles, it can affect almost the entire Peninsula. According to weather forecasts, a large part of Miami (6 million people) is under the threat of life-threatening hurricane-force winds and high waves.
The meteorologists say that on Monday she will go to the area of Tampa Bay. As told to Dennis Feltgen, the representative of the National hurricane center, in this area there was a major hurricane since 1921, when the population was about 10 thousand people. Now lives here 3 million.
Change of course Irma West many by surprise. In the area of Tampa people are not prepared for the hurricane, and they had hastily to evacuate. Residents were nervous and angry at the weather forecasters, although the warning was declared for the entire coast of Florida.
«Five days ago we were told that it would be on the East coast, and for 24 hours saying that now Irma is coming to the West coast,» says 52-year-old entrepreneur from St. Petersburg Jeff Birbaum. «As usual. Don’t know what you are paying for meteorologists».
The alert lists all 7 thousand people from the National guardand Florida, 30 thousand guardsmen from other States, if necessary, will also send here.
Irma could become one of the most devastating among all hurricanes that hit Florida.
