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Staff ReportsSeptember 10, 2017

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has already restored power to hundreds of thousands of customers as Hurricane Irma continues to move through the state and the company expects additional, lengthy outages as Irma remains a threat to millions of customers throughout Florida. “Despite Irma’s exceedingly high winds, tornadic activity, storm surge and severe flooding, […]

Associated PressSeptember 10, 2017

In a 2017 hurricane season that has already seen two monster storms, Harvey and Irma, manufactured homes are turning out to be just a small fraction of the federal government’s plan to deal with displaced people, with only 1,700 trailers available. Where exactly the Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to send those trailers, Texas or […]

Associated PressSeptember 10, 2017

As Irma marches up Florida’s Gulf Coast toward Tampa Bay, residents fear what the storm will do to an area that hasn’t taken a direct hit from a major hurricane since 1921. From punishing winds to catastrophic storm surge, the area is bracing for devastation. Vulnerable structures range from the towering Sunshine Skyway Bridge to […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 10, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has petitioned the White House for a major disaster declaration for Florida, and as Irma closed in on Florida’s West Coast Sunday it was granted. Governor Rick Scott said, “It’s clear that the entire country is standing with Florida as Hurricane Irma batters our state right now. I have heard from people […]

Scott PowersSeptember 10, 2017

Airbnb, the vacation rental home marketing company, announced it has expanded a disaster response program to provide free housing to Hurricane Irma evacuees and relief workers. The company is asking its vacation rental hosts to participate, including those in parts of Alabama and North Carolina, northwest and southeast South Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia to help […]

Associated PressSeptember 10, 2017

Hurricane Irma has made landfall on Marco Island, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Irma’s powerful eye roared ashore at Marco Island just south of Naples with 115-mph (185-kph) winds, for a second U.S. landfall at 3:35 p.m. Sunday. Category 3 storms have winds from 111 to 129 […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 10, 2017

Tamara Lush is the Associated Press correspondent and multimedia journalist for the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, covering Florida’s Gulf Coast. She has covered 10 storms – including the recent Hurricane Harvey in Houston. She returned to St. Pete, where she’s lived for seven years, to cover Irma and soon found herself among Florida’s many evacuees as […]

Associated PressSeptember 10, 2017

Miami City Manager Daniel Alfonso says a second tower crane has collapsed into a building under construction in the city’s downtown area. Alfonso told The Associated Press that the crane collapsed in a large development with multiple towers being built by Grand Paraiso. Another crane collapsed earlier Sunday onto a high-rise building that’s under construction […]

Terry RoenSeptember 10, 2017

Flagler County put the brakes on hurricane parties by issuing an emergency order suspending the sale of alcohol. Bars, restaurants, liquor stores and grocery stores are prohibited from selling alcohol until the order is lifted. “We don’t need hurricane parties going on that drive disturbances, and we don’t need you driving impaired while people are […]

Terry RoenSeptember 10, 2017

Central Florida shelters have plenty of space as Hurricane Irma’s path shifted west and many residents have decided to weather the storm at home. Only two of 18 Orange County shelters are full. Shelters at Apopka and Colonial high schools were the first to fill. The gymnasium at Colonial High School was covered with inflatable […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma

FPL: More than 350,000 outages caused by Irma have already been restored

FEMA sees trailers only as last resort after Harvey, Irma

Irma brings fears of surge, sewers and toxins to Tampa area

President Donald Trump approves major disaster declaration for Florida

Airbnb expands Irma response to Alabama, NC, SC

Irma makes landfall — again — this time on Marco Island

Anxiety, panic, work: A reporter’s day with storm hours out

Second tower crane in Miami collapses because of Irma

No crying in your beer: Flagler County suspends alcohol sales

Central Florida shelters still have room for evacuees