Hurricane and storm surge warnings are well and truly in effect for large areas along Florida’s east coast, as the formidable Hurricane Dorian stampedes its way across the Bahamas and directly into the State's path.
The hurricane, which has now been labeled as a "Catastrophic Category 5 storm," has produced the strongest and most deadly wind speeds on modern record, and up to 1.5 million east coast residents could be facing an emergency evacuation in the next couple of days.
And now, the deadly storm, which is currently traveling over the Bahamas, has begun claiming its first victims.
Keep reading to hear the details surrounding our country's preparation for the storm, and the heartbreakingly tragic deaths that it has caused.
Hurricane Dorian has become one of the modern world's most formidable storms.
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Dorian initially developed from a tropical wave in the Central Atlantic on August twenty-fourth last week. Since then, however, it has grown into an extremely powerful tropical cyclone and is currently causing widespread flooding and destruction to the Bahamas.It has been categorized as a Category 5 hurricane.
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But what exactly is a Category 5 hurricane? Well, even our president doesn't quite know the answer to that. President Trump unbelievably revealed his confusion over the storm, despite 4 of them having threatened the U.S. during his presidency.Trump announced his confusion at a briefing with officials at FEMA's headquarters in Washington, DC.
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"We don't even know what's coming at us. All we know is it's possibly the biggest. I have - I'm not sure that I've ever even heard of a Category 5. I knew it existed. And I've seen some Category 4's - you don't even see them that much." "But a Category 5 is something that - I don't know that I've ever even heard the term other than I know it's there. That's the ultimate, and that's what we have, unfortunately."It turns out that a Category 5 hurricane is the deadliest of them all.
In just a week, Dorian has caused destruction on an unprecedented level.
As #HurricaneDorian approached the #AbacoIslands, NOAA's #GOESEast zoomed in on the powerful storm's eye. The Cat.… https://t.co/XPVLUN0ZFF— NOAA Satellites (@NOAA Satellites)1567350989.0
The Bahamas has taken a true battering from the storm.
September 1, 2019 will probably go down as one of the worst days in Bahamas history.... #HurricaneDorian https://t.co/osyxyNO4hB— Heather Zons (@Heather Zons)1567396660.0
And, now, the storm is threatening the United States.
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Quite worrying considering our president doesn't have a clue what it is, don't you think? Hurricane Dorian is stampeding right towards the path of Florida's peninsula, and today is the critical day that is likely to determine whether the state is dealt a powerful blow or a less intense scrape.It is predicted to hit the U.S. at some point this week...
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And its arrival is expected somewhere between the Florida Keys and southern Georgia.The storm is traveling directly into Florida's path.
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“Although it remains uncertain just how close the eye of Dorian will get to the Florida east coast, the threat of damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge remains high," the National Weather Service office in Melbourne wrote. “There will be considerable impacts and damage to coastal areas, with at least some effects felt inland as well!"Residents are bracing themselves.
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Serious storm effects are likely in coastal Georgia and the Carolinas in the middle and latter half of the week as Dorian picks up speed and heads north.Florida is now in an official state of emergency.
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President Trump on Friday approved an emergency declaration for Florida and "ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Dorian," the White House has said.An evacuation is imminent.
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Roughly 540,000 people live on the state’s 100-mile coast. Areas that are facing evacuation include parts of Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty, and McIntosh counties. It is estimated that up to 1.5 million people could be ordered to flee the U.S. coastline in the next couple of days.And Floridians have been told to prepare for 7 potential days without power.
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Gov. Ron DeSantis has urged residents to “make preparations" for a 7-day power outage after issuing a state of emergency for all sixty-seven counties.DeSantis predicts that the storm could be catastrophic.
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“I think a lot of Floridians are heeding the advice because they see that the storm could be really powerful, potentially a major impact," DeSantis told Fox News. He also said that Florida has millions of gallons of water for distribution and FEMA is prepared to distribute water as well.Preparations are well and truly underway.
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And big companies are working hard in order to prepare Flordia for the impact of the storm. “We’re also working with companies like Publix and Walmart to get those shelves restocked because we know that’s important," DeSantis said.But, for some people, preparations simply weren't enough.
The storm has tragically started claiming lives.
Horrifying video from the Bahamas https://t.co/YQW0DdJnFt— Andy Simancas (@Andy Simancas)1567437679.0
Lachino Mcintosh was swept away in the floods.
His sister is also missing.
First death recorded in Abaco following Hurrican Dorian passage on Abaco.... BP BREAKING| The first recorded death… https://t.co/TvE2Pl5Vjh— Bahamas Press (@Bahamas Press)1567394895.0
The Bahamas continue to struggle on.
They have sent me this one right now Abaco Island #HurricaneDorian2019 @PhilFerro7 @wsvn https://t.co/TsDFXLodoj— Andy Simancas (@Andy Simancas)1567354978.0
5 more people have been confirmed to have died.
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The Bahamas Prime Minister, Hubert Minnis, confirmed yesterday that 5 more deaths and twenty-one injuries occurred on the hard-hit Abaco Islands.
The storm has caused deadly flooding.
"That’s my kitchen window that water is hitting, and that has to be a minimum of about 20 feet above the ground." B… https://t.co/zVsJq84nNQ— CNN (@CNN)1567485068.0
But, heartbreakingly, even more bodies have been spotted in the raging waters.
Residents have been urged to take shelter.
Oh wow 😮 houses 🏠 were completely destroyed In the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. Let’s pray for all in this storm p… https://t.co/K37mYYTgLY— 🌍James Julmis🌍 (@🌍James Julmis🌍)1567383578.0
Even though many of the houses have been completely destroyed in the storm.
"Power lines are down, lamp posts are down, trees are across the street – it is very dangerous to be outdoors if you don't have to be outdoors," Henfield continued.
As soon as the weather permits, first responders will go to those areas where we have reports from individuals who were in distress."
And, now, we brace ourselves for Dorian's impact.
😰Total devastation on the #Abaco Islands in the #Bahamas in the wake of Category 5 Hurricane #Dorian that packed 18… https://t.co/2b03LJV9Pe— Dena Grayson, MD, PhD (@Dena Grayson, MD, PhD)1567492580.0