Hurricane Irma Threat Prompts Florida State Of Emergency

TALLAHASSEE, FL — As powerful Category 4 Hurricane Irma moves westward on a path that may impact Florida, Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency. The declaration covers all 67 counties in the state as the storm’s eventual path remains very much in the air.

“Hurricane Irma is a major and life-threatening storm and Florida must be prepared,” Scott said in a Monday statement. “I have continued to be briefed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Hurricane Irma and current forecast models have Florida in Irma’s path – potentially impacting millions of Floridians.”

The state of emergency declaration paves the way for state, federal and local governments to work together should the storm’s impacts be felt. “In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared,” Scott said.

Governor Scott: Irma Much Worse Than Hurricane Andrew

Get the Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. Sept. 4 update on Irma, the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Irma was located about 490 miles east of the Leeward Islands. She was moving west at 13 mph.

Hurricane Irma is expected to follow a path that will bring her toward the northern Cuban coastline as a major storm by Saturday. If the course holds steady, she may impact Florida.

"There is an increasing chance of seeing some impacts from Irma in the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys later this week and this weekend," the hurricane center posted on Facebook shortly after its 5 p.m. update.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 each year. Average seasons produce about 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes. Three of the hurricanes are generally deemed major.

Residents readying for the ongoing season can get tips and advice on the federal government’s Ready.gov website.

Watch: Evacuations Underway In Florida

Graphics courtesy of the National Hurricane Center