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As Texas and Southwest Louisiana recover from Hurricane Harvey’s devastation the Caribbean and Florida prepare for the impact of a dangerous catastrophic 5 Storm Hurricane Irma. This storm should be taking very seriously and if you are in it’s path, and you are able to we strongly urge you to EVACUATE! It is NOT worth the risk to stay! As someone who lived through Hurricane Katrina I know first hand the devastation these storms can cause.
As of 2 pm E/T this evening Hurricane Irma is a dangerously catastrophic 185mph Category 5 storm the highest level on the scale. Hurricane Irma is now the strongest recorded hurricane in the Atlantic. Irma is currently moving west at 14mph it is forecasted by the NHC to go over Leeward Islands today and early Wednesday. Then the core of Irma will move near or over portions of the Caribbean islands (the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos islands, the Bahamas, and Cuba) later this week. However the NHC says it is still too early to determine what direct impacts Irma might have on the continental United States at this point. We can only hope this storm turns out into the Atlantic and not affect anyone however that seems very unlikely at this point.
“KEY MESSAGES FROM THE NHC:
1. Irma is a potentially catastrophic category 5 hurricane and will bring life-threatening wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to portions of the northeastern Leeward Islands beginning later today and the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico beginning tomorrow.
Preparations should be rushed to completion before the arrival of tropical-storm force winds later today in the Leeward Islands and tomorrow morning in Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
2. Hurricane watches have been issued for portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, and Irma could bring dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall to those areas on Thursday and Friday.
3. Irma could directly affect the remainder of the Bahamas and Cuba as an extremely dangerous major hurricane later this week. Residents in these areas should monitor the progress of Irma and listen to advice given by officials.
4. The chance of direct impacts from Irma later this week and this weekend is increasing in the Florida Keys and portions of the Florida Peninsula. However, it is too soon to specify the timing and magnitude of the impacts. Elsewhere, it is too early to determine what direct impacts Irma might have on the continental United States. Everyone in hurricane-prone areas should ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place.
Again, we strongly urge everyone in the path of Hurricane Irma to prepare and get ready and to be ready to evacuate! Do NOT stay if you don’t have to, please get out if you can! Please take this storm seriously look at what Harvey did to Texas and Louisiana and that was a category 4. This storm is a dangeruous catastrophic category 5 monster the most powerful storm on the scale it’s power is not to be taken lightly. I know as I experienced this first hand with hurricane Katrina.
I would also like to take this time to mention that several of our staff members as well as their friends and family are in the path of Hurricane Irma. I ask you to keep them and everyone in the path of Hurricane Irma in your thoughts and prayers.
For all the latest info on Hurricane Irma go here: Hurricanes.gov
