7 years ago
Hurricane Irma began its destructive barrage on Florida on Saturday, with brutal leading winds flattening trees and knocking out power across the southern tip of the state in what residents feared were the opening blows of a historically devastating storm. More than 6.3 million people were told to evacuate Florida, with warnings of a huge storm surge that would be "life-threatening" to anyone in its path. The storm has now lost its strength, weakening to a tropical storm from being a Category 1 Hurricane, although it still produced "some wind gusts to near hurricane force."
In lighter news, White House social media director Dan Scavino tweeted a wrong video of the Miami airport getting flooded, and was corrected by the airport itself.
10 people have been reportedly killed in Cuba as a result of hurricane Irma.
Millions in Florida and Georgia lose power due to Irma
The damage from Irma, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm from being a Category 1 hurricane, has resulted in the loss of power for around 5.8 million homes and businesses in Florida and Georgia, according to state officials.
Most outages were in Florida Power & Light's (the state's biggest power company) service area in the southern and eastern parts of Florida state.
In Georgia, around 152,000 customers have reportedly lost power.
The damage from Irma, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm from being a Category 1 hurricane, has resulted in the loss of power for around 5.8 million homes and businesses in Florida and Georgia, according to state officials.
Most outages were in Florida Power & Light's (the state's biggest power company) service area in the southern and eastern parts of Florida state.
In Georgia, around 152,000 customers have reportedly lost power.
Delta Air Lines to cancel around 800 flights due to Irma
Delta Air Lines Inc will cancel around 800 flights due to Irma as it braces for Irma at its Atlanta hub. Airline officials said Irma could bring strong crosswinds which would exceed operating limits on select mainline and regional aircraft, which is why they were taking this step.
Irma has now been downgraded to a tropical storm from a Category 1 Hurricane.
Delta Air Lines Inc will cancel around 800 flights due to Irma as it braces for Irma at its Atlanta hub. Airline officials said Irma could bring strong crosswinds which would exceed operating limits on select mainline and regional aircraft, which is why they were taking this step.
Irma has now been downgraded to a tropical storm from a Category 1 Hurricane.
Hurricane Irma weakens to tropical storm
According to AFP, the National Hurricane Centre has said that Hurricane Irma has now weakened to become a tropical storm. Irma is continuing on a northward path through Florida.
As of 8 am (1200 GMT), Irma was 105 miles (170 km) northwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour (110 km per hour). Thus, it still produced "some wind gusts to near hurricane force."
However, early reports on the aftermath of Irma's damage were not as bad as was initially feared. People were able to make their way through lightly flooded streets.
Irma was also linked to three deaths in Florida.
According to AFP, the National Hurricane Centre has said that Hurricane Irma has now weakened to become a tropical storm. Irma is continuing on a northward path through Florida.
As of 8 am (1200 GMT), Irma was 105 miles (170 km) northwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour (110 km per hour). Thus, it still produced "some wind gusts to near hurricane force."
However, early reports on the aftermath of Irma's damage were not as bad as was initially feared. People were able to make their way through lightly flooded streets.
Irma was also linked to three deaths in Florida.
Hurricane Irma weakens to tropical storm
According to AFP, the National Hurricane Centre has said that Hurricane Irma has now weakened to become a tropical storm. Irma is continuing on a northward path through Florida.
As of 8 am (1200 GMT), Irma was 105 miles (170 km) northwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour (110 km per hour). Thus, it still produced "some wind gusts to near hurricane force."
However, early reports on the aftermath of Irma's damage were not as bad as was initially feared. People were able to make their way through lightly flooded streets.
Irma was also linked to three deaths in Florida.
According to AFP, the National Hurricane Centre has said that Hurricane Irma has now weakened to become a tropical storm. Irma is continuing on a northward path through Florida.
As of 8 am (1200 GMT), Irma was 105 miles (170 km) northwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour (110 km per hour). Thus, it still produced "some wind gusts to near hurricane force."
However, early reports on the aftermath of Irma's damage were not as bad as was initially feared. People were able to make their way through lightly flooded streets.
Irma was also linked to three deaths in Florida.
Extent of damage from Hurricane Irma unclear
Even though Hurricane Irma has lost strength and has been downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, it has still left a trail of destruction in its wake.
The extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma is unclear, as of now. Many eyewitness accounts in the city of Miami in Florida, have described major loss of property, with millions left without electricity and city streets flooded.
Brian L Kahn, a senior science writer for 'Climate Central', a non-profit, non-advocacy research and journalism organisation, tweeted a video of a flooded street in downtown Miami. He tweeted saying downtown Miami looked "like a watery war zone". In the tweet, he also said that this was more than 100 miles from the eye of the hurricane.
Downtown Miami looks like a watery war zone. This is more than 100 miles from #Irma's eye pic.twitter.com/F71QYi0Vd2
Even though Hurricane Irma has lost strength and has been downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, it has still left a trail of destruction in its wake.
The extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma is unclear, as of now. Many eyewitness accounts in the city of Miami in Florida, have described major loss of property, with millions left without electricity and city streets flooded.
Brian L Kahn, a senior science writer for 'Climate Central', a non-profit, non-advocacy research and journalism organisation, tweeted a video of a flooded street in downtown Miami. He tweeted saying downtown Miami looked "like a watery war zone". In the tweet, he also said that this was more than 100 miles from the eye of the hurricane.
Downtown Miami looks like a watery war zone. This is more than 100 miles from #Irma's eye pic.twitter.com/F71QYi0Vd2
- Brian L Kahn (@blkahn) September 10, 2017
'Bad News Is This Is Some Big Monster': Donald Trump On Hurricane Irma
US President Donald Trump called Hurricane Irma "some big monster" as it battered the Florida coast. The US House of Representatives canceled votes scheduled for Monday because of the hurricane.
US President Donald Trump called Hurricane Irma "some big monster" as it battered the Florida coast. The US House of Representatives canceled votes scheduled for Monday because of the hurricane.
The storm had killed three people when it struck the southern Florida Keys island chain as a more powerful Category Four on Sunday.
Irma Weakens To Category 1 Hurricane But Still Poses Threat
Warnings of dangerous storm surges remained in effect through vast swaths of peninsular Florida, where more than six million people had been ordered to flee Irma in one of the biggest evacuations in US history.
Warnings of dangerous storm surges remained in effect through vast swaths of peninsular Florida, where more than six million people had been ordered to flee Irma in one of the biggest evacuations in US history.
Irma's Winds Buckle Three Giant Cranes In South Florida
No injuries were reported in any of the three collapses, and investigations would begin after the storm cleared, officials said.
No injuries were reported in any of the three collapses, and investigations would begin after the storm cleared, officials said.
Irma weakens to Category 1 Hurricane, still poses storm surge threat, says US forecasters.
So far, the brunt of the storm has affected Florida Power and Light's customers in the states' southern and eastern sections, and its own operations were not immune, either.
Hurricane Irma Knocks Out Power To Nearly 4 Million In Florida: Utilities
Hurricane Irma knocked out power to nearly 4 million homes and businesses in Florida on Sunday, threatening millions more as it crept up the state's west coast, and full restoration of service could take weeks, local electric utilities said.
Hurricane Irma knocked out power to nearly 4 million homes and businesses in Florida on Sunday, threatening millions more as it crept up the state's west coast, and full restoration of service could take weeks, local electric utilities said.
Around 400 homes in Orlando have welcomed in Tampa residents solely through their own initiative.
1,20,000 Indians stuck in Florida
1,20,000 Indians are stuck in Florida. The Indian Consulate in Atlanta was coordinating with various community groups and was in constant touch with community leaders and Indian passport holders, the Indian American community organisations in Atlanta launched an unprecedented relief effort for those in distress due to hurricane Irma.
1,20,000 Indians are stuck in Florida. The Indian Consulate in Atlanta was coordinating with various community groups and was in constant touch with community leaders and Indian passport holders, the Indian American community organisations in Atlanta launched an unprecedented relief effort for those in distress due to hurricane Irma.
Large scale effort on in Atlanta to provide hospitality to evacuees from Florida. pic.twitter.com/b09pRmEPqw
- India in Atlanta (@CGI_Atlanta) September 10, 2017
JUST IN: Two feared dead as Hurricane strikes Florida, reports local media.
Irma struck the Florida Keys archipelago earlier on Sunday and is now bearing north, bearing down on the city of Tampa on the west coast of the Florida peninsula.
Economic cost of Harvey, Irma could be $290 billion: Accuweather
The combined economic cost of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma could reach $290 billion, equivalent to 1.5 percent of the US gross domestic product, US forecaster AccuWeather said in a report Sunday.
"We believe the damage estimate from Irma to be about $100 billion, among the costliest hurricanes of all time," said the firm's CEO and founder Joel Myers.
The combined economic cost of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma could reach $290 billion, equivalent to 1.5 percent of the US gross domestic product, US forecaster AccuWeather said in a report Sunday.
"We believe the damage estimate from Irma to be about $100 billion, among the costliest hurricanes of all time," said the firm's CEO and founder Joel Myers.
Please call the Monroe County EM Hotline at 1-800-955-5504 or visit http://www.monroecountyEM.gov for information regarding Irma impacts, informs weather service in Tampa Bay Area.
Possible impacts of #Irma for South Carolina and Georgia as it continues to track northward. https://t.co/kGw18ctirs
- NWS WPC (@NWSWPC) September 11, 2017
Irma churns north toward Tampa Bay. Over 2.5 million customers were without power: The Washington Post (AFP Image) Indian-Americans in Atlanta and neighbouring areas today opened up their homes for friends, families and community members from Florida, as hurricane Irma made landfall on the state's southern islands.
Large scale effort on in Atlanta to provide hospitality to evacuees from Florida. pic.twitter.com/b09pRmEPqw
- India in Atlanta (@CGI_Atlanta) September 10, 2017
US President Donald Trump approved Florida's request for emergency federal aid on Sunday to help with the recovery from destructive Hurricane Irma.
President Donald Trump said he would be traveling "very soon" to Florida to survey relief efforts in response to deadly Hurricane Irma. "I'll be going to Florida very soon," Trump told reporters "Right now, we're worried about lives, not cost."
The category three storm arrives in Marco Island
See a satellite view of Hurricane #Irma moving in on Florida, seen over the last 24-hours. Watch & get the latest: https://t.co/KkkefZu5ap pic.twitter.com/kSGh9HPHqk
- NASA (@NASA) September 10, 2017
Hurricane Irma makes second landfall in Florida and will roar up the state's Gulf Coast: reports The Washington Post
US President Donald Trump directed full resources of the federal government to help Florida and other states hit by Hurricane Irma and has "great concern" about the storm as it batters the Florida coast, his vice president said to Reuters.
3 people have reportedly dies as Hurricane Irma batters Florida in US, says news agency AFP quoting police.
Four people are now known to have died in the Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Maarten when it was hit by Hurricane Irma, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.
One woman in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood delivered her own baby, with medical personnel coaching her on the phone because emergency responders were not able to reach her, the city of Miami said on Twitter.
More than 1 million without power as Hurricane Irma bears down on Florida.
A tower crane has collapsed on top of a high rise under construction at 300 Biscayne Blvd as Miami government tweeted. They also requested people in a building in the area of NE 3rd street and Biscayne Blvd facing the crane to seek shelter in the opposite side of Bldg or stairwell.
- The Indian embassy in Venezuela tweeted the helpline number in Aruba, a tiny Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, for the situation in Sint Maarten: 00297-593- 2552.
- The helpline numbers in Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island, is 005999-513-2407; 005999-690-2686.
- The Indian embassy in the Netherlands said countrymen affected by Irma can reach them on: 0031643743800.
- Those affected in Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti can contact Indian authorities on emergency no. +5352131818 or email them at: controlroomindiairma@gmail.com.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted 24X7 helpline at High Commission of India, Kingston (+1876 833 4500; +1876 564 1378).
He also tweeted email ids for Indians to contact in case of emergency: hc.kingston@mea.gov.in; hoc.kingston@mea.gov.in.
He also tweeted email ids for Indians to contact in case of emergency: hc.kingston@mea.gov.in; hoc.kingston@mea.gov.in.
The Indian embassy in the US has opened a round-the-clock helpline number and rushed senior diplomats to Atlanta to lead relief efforts for Indian-Americans stuck in the region.
- The hotline number is 202-258-8819
- India's Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna is closely monitoring the situation
- Sandeep Chakravorty, India's consul-general in New York, was in Atlanta overseeing preparation for relief efforts from a 24X7 control room.
- The Indian Consulate in Atlanta tweeted helpline numbers (+14044052567 & +1678179393) for people seeking assistance
Tornado warning at Miami beach
Here is a video as Hurricane Irma hits Florida:
Eyewall and Storm Surge !! #HurricaneIrma #KeyWest pic.twitter.com/jI9kItZWqJ
- Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) September 10, 2017
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for parts of Florida's east coast.
Irma has already killed at least 22 people in the Caribbean, was likely to cause billions of dollars in damage to the third-most-populous US state.
Hurricane Irma has reached Lower Florida Keys, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
The US National Weather Service has issued an immediate "extreme wind warning" to the Lower Florida Keys - which include Key West.
***HEADS UP LOWER KEYS***
- NWS Key West (@NWSKeyWest) September 10, 2017
***EXTREME WIND WARNING IN EFFECT***
***SWATHS OF TORNADO-LIKE DAMAGE LIKELY***#Irma #FLkeys #flwx pic.twitter.com/jZfKlGFtIi
Hurricane Irma is about to hit Florida Keys.
The eye of the Category 4 storm was 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Key West, bringing winds up to 130 miles per hour and threatening dangerous storm surges.
The eye of the Category 4 storm was 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Key West, bringing winds up to 130 miles per hour and threatening dangerous storm surges.
