Hurricane Irma Sweeps Across Atlantic Causing Devastation to Caribbean Region, Southeast U.S. Prepares

Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. EST

According to the NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Irma’s eye is moving northwest off the coast of the Dominican Republic, posing many threats to islands across the Caribbean region. The NCH has recorded the maximum sustained winds are near 180 mph and storm surges estimated to be as much as 20 feet. Irma is currently a category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. As Irma moves beyond Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, millions have been left without power and sustained damages. Current forecasts and storm models show Irma’s path moving through Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas, approaching the southern tip of Florida on Sunday and moving up the coastline of the Southeast United States.

Public Advisories

Here’s the breakdown of public advisories from NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) 11:00 AM EST, September 7, 2017 update:

• Hurricane Warning is in effect for:
  • Dominican Republic from Cabo Engano to the northern border with Haiti
  • Haiti from the northern border with the Dominican Republic to Le Mole St. Nicholas
  • Southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Central Bahamas
  • Northwestern Bahamas
• Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
  • Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach
  • Florida Keys
  • Lake Okeechobee
  • Florida Bay
  • Cuba from Matanzas province eastward to Guantanamo province
• Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:
  • Dominican Republic from south of Cabo Engano westward to the southern border with Haiti
  • Haiti from south of Le Mole St. Nicholas to Port-Au-Prince
  • Cuba provinces of Guantanamo, Holguin, Las Tunas, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus and Villa Clara
• Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
  • Jupiter Inlet southward around the Florida peninsula to Bonita Beach
  • Florida Keys

For all current updates, please refer to products from your local weather service.

Evacuations Begin in Southeast U.S.*

• Florida: 
  • Broward County – voluntary evacuations of mobile homes and low-lying areas
  • Collier County – voluntary evacuations of Marco Island
  • Miami Dade – mandatory evacuations for zones A and B
  • Monroe County – mandatory evacuation

*Evacuation notifications are subject to change and should be actively monitored. Hagerty recommends consulting your local government for official changes in evacuation guidance.

Emergency Declarations

• FEMA: U.S. Virgin Islands Hurricane Irma 3383, Puerto Rico Hurricane Irma 3384, Florida Hurricane Irma 3385
• Florida: A State of Emergency has been declared in Florida by Governor Rick Scott for all 67 counties in the state.
• Georgia: A State of Emergency has been declared in Georgia by Governor Nathan Deal for six coastal counties
• North Carolina: A State of Emergency has been declared in North Carolina by Governor Roy Cooper for all 100 counties in the state.
• South Carolina: A State of Emergency has been declared in South Carolina by Governor Henry McMaster across the state.

Resources and Related Links

Hurricane Harvey Recovery and Relief Resources:

Many of the areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey remain hazardous disaster zones and are still in the earliest stages of recovery. To be part of recovery efforts, please see resources listed below:

• New York Times List of Local and National Charitable Organizations dedicated to Hurricane Harvey recovery
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: link
• Americares: link
• American Red Cross: link

Hurricane Irma News and Updates:

• The National Hurricane Center regularly updated tracking of Hurricane Irma: link
• Remember, Ready.gov provides information on how to prepare for a storm and how to keep you and your family safe: link

Hagerty Consulting is an emergency management consulting firm that helps our clients prepare for and recover from disasters. Established in 2001, Hagerty Consulting’s work includes some of the nation’s largest recovery and preparedness projects in more than 30 states, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and Hurricane Sandy.

You can learn more about our disaster recovery practice here.