US Braces For Hurricane Matthew, 2 Million Urged to Evacuate

Hurricane Matthew tracked closer to the U.S. coast on Thursday, strengthening over the warm waters of the Atlantic as officials warned residents of coastal areas to get out while they can.

“The extreme winds of a major hurricane can do a lot of damage and not just at the coast," Rick Knabb, Director of the National Hurricane Center, told "Good Morning America."

"Those winds can penetrate inland and that would be more so the case the closer it gets to the coast," Knabb warned. "In addition to the wind, you have storm surge potential. People who have been told to evacuate, they need to get out this morning, right away, because time is running out fast. You don’t want to be caught in the storm surge which is the deadliest hazard of all."

Officials in three states urged some 2 million people to head to safer ground as the most powerful storm to threaten the Atlantic coast in more than a decade continued on its path toward the U.S. at about 10 mph, packing 125 mph winds.

Some 8 million Florida residents scrambled to make last-minute preparations as the deadly storm was expected to strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane with 145 mph winds before approaching the state on Thursday night.

US Braces For Hurricane Matthew, 2 Million Urged to Evacuate as Deadly Storm Batters Bahamas - ABC News

Hurricane Matthew Eyewall Slams Nassau, Bahamas; Category 4 Strike Ahead Strongest in East Florida, Georgia in Decades

https://youtube.com/watch?v=_Riz1vKLhqI


I'm in Georgia now, far inland, but hurricane preparation and evacuation has pretty much taken over the news here now. Will probably get a hell of a rain storm tomorrow.