As Hurricane Irma makes its mark on Florida’s southern coast Saturday night, FEMA is reporting that “millions” might be without power for weeks due to the monstrous storm.
“We could see millions of people without power in Florida for multiple days in some areas, maybe weeks, and so I think it’s very important to set the expectations of citizens,” FEMA chief Brock Long told CNN Saturday night. “This is why we ask and plead with people to be ready for multiple days, and unfortunately this is coming into reality.”
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When asked for a specific number of those who might lose power, Long said it’s hard to speculate but the estimates could reach in 5 million.
“You know, south-to-north trajectory, and it’s not just Florida; it’s going to be moving into Georgia as well… over the next five days,” he said.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke also articulated her concern about the expected power losses and storm surges, saying recovery will take longer than expected.
“Electrical outages are going to be extremely, extremely broad and probably long-lived,” Duke said. “It will take a long time to put the electrical grid back together. And that’s going to be a hard recovery for those survivors in Florida.”
Photo credit: Twitter / @mark_tarello
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NEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 19: "Toil and Trouble" – Elsbeth is thrown into the world of television after the showrunner of a long-running police procedural is brutally murdered in his office, and although it appears to be the act of a disgruntled fan, she begins to suspect the show's longtime star Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf) who yearns for artistic fulfillment. Meanwhile, Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) continues to be a thorn in Elsbeth's side, on the CBS original series ELSBETH, Thursday, Dec. 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Carra Patterson as Kaya Blanke. (Photo by Michael Parmelee/CBS via Getty Images)
