Massive evacuations underway as Matthew roars toward Florida

DEBKAfile was founded by a team of journalists in June 2000 as an independent Internet Web site, providing an intelligence and security news service. October 5, 2016, 8:25 PM (IDT)

The southeastern coast of the US braced for Hurricane Matthew on Wednesday as the approaching Category 3 storm continued to wreak havoc in the Caribbean with 120-mph winds. Matthew may intensify to a Category 4 storm with 130-mph winds by the time it reaches Florida on Thursday, and then move up the coast to Georgia and the Carolinas by Sunday. The governor of Florida declared a state of emergency for the entire state, warning of the possibility of a “catastrophic” impact. A state of emergency was also declared in areas of Georgia, North and South Carolina. Mandatory evacuations started in areas of the four states, and thousands of National Guard troops were placed on alert. Winds of over 100 mph are predicted even if the storm does not make landfall. Torrential rain, flooding and widespread power outages are expected throughout the region. Matthew has already left a trail of destruction in the Caribbean with at least 11 people reported dead.   

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