Scott Powers
With projections now showing an increased chance monster Hurricane Matthew might hit Florida’s Atlantic coast, Gov. Rick Scott took to The Weather Channel Tuesday afternoon to urge residents to prepare now and to leave now if they’re planning to evacuate regardless.
The storm, after devastating Haiti, still is two or more days away if it hits Florida at all, according to the latest models, but its threat has grown and Scott said the worst must be assumed for preparations.
“Just get ready,” he advised. “You don’t know what is going to happen. Do not wait.”
The National Hurricane Center’s latest projections show the most likely path of Hurricane Matthew just skirting Florida’s Atlantic coast Thursday or early Friday, but the cone of uncertainty now extends inland well beyond Orlando. By Thursday it could have sustained winds in the range of 115-130 mph, making it a powerful Category 3 storm. Rainfall along the coast could be as much as eight inches. Advisories have been issued from Broward County through Brevard County, with the prospect that Florida’s First Coast also could receive advisories soon.
Scott said the state and all counties are now in full storm preparation mode and the challenge now is to get citizens to do the same. He urged people to pay attention to local news and The Weather Channel and follow their advice.
He said decisions on mandatory evacuations would be made county-by-county as needed. But he urged people that if they’re planning to leave no matter what, to do it as soon as possible and beat the rush.
Shelters are opening in the western sides of all East Coast counties, and officials are trying to reach out to elderly and disabled residents to give them early assistance. He said pet shelters and other facilities also are being arranged. “We tried hard to think through every reason people don’t evacuate and tried to address it,” Scott said.
