Florida preps for storm as Hurricane Irma looms in Atlantic
As Hurricane Irma continues to strengthen in the Atlantic, Florida has begun preparing for what could end up being one of the strongest storms to ever make landfall in America. Supermarkets have already been cleared of essentials and hardware stores are currently moving large amounts of plywood and sand bags.
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Residents work together to fill sandbags for each other at Bobby Hicks Park as residents prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 5, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Photo by: Brian Blanco
SOUTH MIAMI HEIGHTS, FL - SEPTEMBER 08: A statue in front of a house has been secured as Hurricane Irma approaches on September 8, 2017 in South Miami Heights, Florida. Current tracks for Hurricane Irma shows that it will hit south Florida later this weekend. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)Photo by: Mark Wilson
SAVANNAH, GA - SEPTEMBER 08: Southbound lanes of I-95 near the Georgia-South Carolina border are empty as northbound lanes are packed as pepole evacuate ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma September 8, 2017 in Savannah, Georgia. Florida appears to be in the path of the hurricane which may come ashore at category 4. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Photo by: Chip Somodevilla
YEMASSEE, SC - SEPTEMBER 08: A convoy of utility repair trucks heads south on I-95 in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Irma September 8, 2017 in Yemassee, South Carolina. Florida appears to be in the path of the hurricane which may come ashore at category 4. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Photo by: Chip Somodevilla
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 06: A sign on a business reas, 'Be Prepared Go Away Irma,' as people prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017 in Miami, Florida. It's still too early to know where the direct impact of the hurricane will take place but the state of Florida is in the area of possible landfall. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Photo by: Joe Raedle
ISLAMORADA, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Cars sit in traffic as they evacuate heading North on Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys on Septeber 5, 2017 in Islamorada, Florida. Residents are evacuating ahead of Hurricane Irma, a powerful storm expected to make landfall this weekend. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)Photo by: Marc Serota
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 06: Noel Garcia and Mike Ehlis (L-R) put plywood over windows of Noel's business as they prepare for Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017 in Miami, Florida. It's still too early to know where the direct impact of the hurricane will take place but the state of Florida is in the area of possible landfall. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Photo by: Joe Raedle
Photo by: Brian Blanco
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 06: People put up shutters as they prepare a family members house for Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017 in Miami, Florida. It's still too early to know where the direct impact of the hurricane will take place but the state of Florida is in the area of possible landfall. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Photo by: Joe Raedle
Photo by: Brian Blanco
Photo by: Brian Blanco
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Stan Glass, of St. Petersburg, fills four 5-gallon fuel tanks with gasoline for his boat should he have to evacuate by boat as residents in the area prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 05, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Photo by: Brian Blanco
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Megan Daniel, left, gets a hand from a stranger, Delene Cole, as she loads the plywood she intends to use as storm shutters as residents in the area gather supplies and prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 05, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Photo by: Brian Blanco
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Carlos Otero, of St. Petersburg, loads his car with water bottles outside of a Publix grocery store as residents in the area prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 05, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Photo by: Brian Blanco
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Shoppers gather supplies at a Home Depot store as residents in the area prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 5, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Photo by: Brian Blanco
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Residents work together to fill sandbags for each other at Bobby Hicks Park as residents prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 5, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Photo by: Brian Blanco
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 05: Shoppers gather plywood for makeshift storm shutters at a Home Depot store as residents in the area prepare ahead of Hurricane Irma on September 5, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it crosses into the Caribbean and is expected to move on towards Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Photo by: Brian Blanco