State Of Emergency Declared As Tropical Storm Hermine Approaches Florida, USA

Officials issued the first hurricane watch in four years for the west coast of Florida on Wednesday, as Tropical Storm Hermine strengthened and continued its slow churn toward the state.

 

In preparation for the storm in Florida, coastal residents have been evacuated, schools and colleges are closed Thursday and Friday, and officials have opened shelters for evacuees.

 

The storm is forecast to hit somewhere along the Big Bend area of Florida on Thursday afternoon either as a strong tropical storm or a weak hurricane. If it attains hurricane strength before landfall, it would be the first hurricane to hit Florida in 11 years.

 

Heavy rain, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes are all a concern with the storm. Rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches are possible over portions of central and northern Florida through Friday, with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches possible, the National Hurricane Center said. That high volume could trigger flash flooding.

Courtesy of usatoday.com 

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