Hurricane Irma Live Updates Feed

Hurricane Irma is currently moving towards the U.S. mainland and neighboring islands including [...]

By John Connor Coulston

Hurricane Irma is currently moving towards the U.S. mainland and neighboring islands including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

Some smaller countries have already been hit by the storm, which has evolved in a Category 5 hurricane.

The areas in Irma's path are already taking preemptive measures to ensure they are prepared for the worst.

Scroll through for live-updates...

Background

The storm began as a "tropical wave" formation near the African coast on Aug. 26. It soon escalated into a tropical storm/hurricane as it approached North America.

By Monday, the storm became a category 4 storm, and it increased into a category 5 the next day.

With the U.S. still reeling for Hurricane Harvey's strike on Southeast Texas, many in Florida and other areas began to brace for impact.

Florida governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency on Monday to prep for Irma. School across the the state began to close and 7,000 National Guard were called to duty to prepare for possible natural disaster.

President Donald Trump's administration asked for $8 billion in advanced FEMA funding to ensure the agency would be able to respond if needed.

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Irma Strikes the Caribbean

As the Hurricane neared, natural precursors took several lives.

While surfing in a rough waves caused by the storm, a man in Barbados was knocked off his board and drowned.

In Puerto Rico, a man died after being struck by lightning. Another man died when he fell off a ladder while working on his roof in the rainstorms caused by Irma.

The hurricane made landfall on the island of Saint Martin, which is governed by France and the Netherlands, on Wednesday morning. The affects of the storm were catastrophic.

Buildings were demolished, areas have been completely flooded and there has been a power blackout across the island.

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Florida Braces for Impact

2:49 p.m. EST

After photos started to roll in from Saint Martin, the danger of Irma became all the more pressing.

Residents of the Florida Keys have been ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm.

Florida residents have rushed stores in the Miami area and bought up bottled water and other supplies.

No mainland evacuations have been ordered, but prominent figures in the state including Sen. Marco Rubio and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez have advised those with intent to evacuate to do so as early as possible.

Governor Rick Scott has said he is ensuring roads throughout the state are clear and that emergency resources will be available in case mainland evacuations are ordered.

Scott also stated that he will leave evacuation decisions up to each individual county. Many officials are waiting until Thursday morning to see what path the storm takes before issuing orders.

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The First Caribbean Damages

6:54 EST

Images and details are starting to emerge from the islands that have been struck by Irma.

The island of Barbuda has reportedly been 90 percent destroyed by the hurricane, with widely varying numbers of fatalities being reported. The island itself was cut off from outside contact since the storm struck. The country's prime minister has just returned from assessing the damage and will provide an update soon.

St. Martin was rocked by the storm, with more images and videos pouring in.

The worst of the storm may miss Puerto Rico, but it's still being hit with heavy rainfall and winds.

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Further U.S. Preparation

7:20 EST

North Carolina and South Carolina have each declared states of emergency in preparation of Irma's ascension up the coast.

"You need to start preparing for some type of impact," North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said.

"The state of emergency allows one of the best, most experienced emergency response teams on earth to begin organizing response efforts," wrote South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. "We don't know yet if Irma will hit us, but we want everyone to be prepared in case we need to evacuate."

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Barbuda Devastated

8:24 p.m. EST

The island of Barbuda has been devastated after Hurricane Irma ripped through the country destroying anywhere from 60-90 percent of homes and buildings.

Barbuda, which is one half of the state of Antigua and Barbuda, was the first to face the wrath of the category 5 storm. No contact was made with its sister island, Antigua, throughout Wednesday, having the world bracing for the worst.

The country's prime minister, Gaston Browne, flew to the island via helicopter on Wednesday evening and reported that there was only one confirmed fatality, an infant.

However, the island is now "practicably uninhabitable." Browne told ABS TV that the island now has no water, electricity, food or communication systems. He estimates about 60 percent of residents are now homeless.

He is urging residents to evacuate to Antigua. He also stressed that if Hurricane Jose follows Irma, they will have virtually have "no choice" but to leave the island.

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Further Updates

This story is being updated as information comes in.

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