…As It Batters Florida With Torrential Rain, Winds; at least 5 dead
Hurricane Irma was downgraded to a tropical storm this morning as it continues to batter Florida with winds, torrential rain and dangerous storm surges. The storm has killed at least five in the state and left nearly 6 million without power.
Heavy rain and winds are moving into the Georgia cities of Brunswick and Savannah this morning, where flooding and up to 60 mph wind gusts are expected. Atlanta could see 50 to 60 mph winds gusts between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. this evening. Flooding is likely in southeast Georgia, but Atlanta could see flooding as well.
A tornado watch has also been issued in Florida from Daytona Beach to Jacksonville and in Georgia up through Savannah.
The storm has dumped massive amounts of rain in the Florida cities of Daytona Beach, Orlando, Melbourne and Gainesville, causing flash flooding in several of those areas.
A record storm surge was reported this morning in Jacksonville, exceeding the previous record set by Hurricane Dora in 1964. A flash-flood warning is in effect for the city this morning as water is expected to flow in from the St. Johns River.
As of this morning, 125 rescues have been made from floodwaters in Orange County, Florida, officials said.
In Lakeland, Florida, police officers rescued a family with two young children who were stranded in a car that was submerged in about 4 feet of water in a ditch.
“In the car, they found two adults and two small children, ages 6 months and 10 months old,” the police said. “The water had reached the kids’ car seats. Thankfully, all were not injured and officers were able to safely get them out of the car.”
Irma first made landfall in the Florida Keys Sunday morning as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing 130 mph winds and a storm surge of 10 feet. It was the first Category 4 landfall in Florida since 2004.
The Keys were under mandatory evacuation orders as Irma neared, but not everyone left.
According to the Miami Herald, Florida Director of Emergency Management Bryan Koon estimates that about 10,000 people remained in the Keys during the storm, adding it is hard to communicate with those left there.
In an interview with ABC News, Roman Gastesi, the administrator of Monroe County, which includes the Keys, said, “Unfortunately, you start to hear stories of folks that stayed in houses that shouldn’t. … We’re hearing of folks that stayed in boats.”
Koon said late Sunday, “We don’t have a comprehensive insight into what the damage is. … We will work on those at first light.”
Gastesi said officials will begin house-by-house searches today.
Storm pummels Miami and Naples
After Irma left the Keys Sunday morning, it moved north, passing over Naples, which recorded a 142 mph wind gust. The city also saw nearly 12 inches of rain and a 7-foot storm surge. Farther north, wind gusts reached 94 mph in Lakeland and up to 90 mph in the Tampa Bay area.
In Miami, which saw winds up to 99 mph, resident Joe Kiener told ABC News he’s endured multiple hurricanes in the Caribbean but said he had never experienced a storm as brutal as Irma.