Florida declares state of emergency ahead of Hurricane “Matthew”
Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency for all counties ahead of Hurricane "Matthew", a life-threatening Category 4 storm. Scott signed the executive order on Monday, October 3, 2016, while visiting the City of Hialeah Emergency Operations Center.
“Hurricane Matthew is a life-threatening category four hurricane and we must all take it seriously. If it directly impacts Florida, there could be massive destruction which we haven’t seen since Hurricane Andrew devastated Miami-Dade County in 1992. That is why we cannot delay and must prepare for direct impact now. Having a plan in place could mean the difference between life and death during severe weather, especially a major category four hurricane," Scott said.
There are currently no evacuation orders in place and a direct impact to Florida is not expected, but the storm could quickly change track and no one should be caught off guard, Scott reminded.
The center of Category 4 Hurricane "Matthew" will pass directly over or very near southwestern Haiti around 12:00 UTC on October 4, 2016. Matthew has already claimed its first victims in Haiti, leaving at least two persons dead, authorities said Monday, October 3, 2016.
Hurricane "Matthew" forecast track by NHC at 06:00 UTC on October 4, 2016
Read more: Hurricane "Matthew" summary: data, images and videos – September/October 2016
Featured image: Hurricane "Matthew" at 06:45 UTC on October 4, 2016. Credit: UW-CIMSS
If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.
Your support makes a difference
Dear valued reader,
We hope that our website has been a valuable resource for you.
The reality is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and resources to maintain and grow this website. We rely on the support of readers like you to keep providing high-quality content.
If you have found our website to be helpful, please consider making a contribution to help us continue to bring you the information you need. Your support means the world to us and helps us to keep doing what we love.
Support us by choosing your support level – Silver, Gold or Platinum. Other support options include Patreon pledges and sending us a one-off payment using PayPal.
Thank you for your consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Teo Blašković
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:
We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.