Deadly Hurricane Matthew Prompts Florida State of Emergency Declaration

TALLAHASSEE, FL — As Hurricane Matthew continues on a path that may bring it to Florida as a major storm morning, Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency. The declaration covers every county in the state, including those found in the Tampa Bay area.

“Hurricane Matthew is a life-threatening category four hurricane and we must all take it seriously,” Scott said in a Monday statement. “If Hurricane Matthew directly impacts Florida, there could be massive destruction which we haven’t seen since Hurricane Andrew devastated Miami-Dade County in 1992. That is why we cannot delay and must prepare for direct impact now.”

The executive order Scott signed is designed to ensure counties have the resources they might need for evacuations, shelters and to meet other logistical needs should the storm’s impact be felt in Florida.

See also: Deadly Hurricane Matthew Shifts Track Toward Florida

“Hurricane Matthew has already killed four people and nobody wants that number to rise,” Scott said. “As I said during Hurricane Hermine, we can rebuild a home or a business, but we cannot rebuild your life. The best way to prevent further loss is to get prepared now and take this storm seriously. Having a plan in place could mean the difference between life and death during severe weather, especially a major category four hurricane.”

Hurricane Matthew has killed a man in Colombia, a 16-year old in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and two men in Haiti, according to the Chicago Tribune.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 update, Matthew was a strong Category 4 hurricane, packing 140 mph winds. The storm was located a few hundred miles away from Haiti and was moving north at 7 mph.

On its current projected path, Matthew is expected to near Jamaica and southwest Haiti overnight Monday. The storm is anticipated to clear Cuba on Tuesday before moving into the Atlantic Ocean. Just where Matthew will go after Cuba is somewhat uncertain. The hurricane center, however, adjusted the storm's possible path at 5 p.m. Monday to include a large swath of Florida.

“We all know how quickly the track of these storms can change,” Scott said. “While there are no evacuation orders currently in place, this storm could threaten our state with very little notice and no one should be caught off guard. If an evacuation order is activated in your area, leave immediately. Once severe weather comes, our first responders will not be able to rescue you until the weather subsides.”

To read the full declaration, visit the state online.

Graphic courtesy of the National Weather Service