With the hours counting down until Hurricane Matthew is expected to slam into the coastal United States, widespread evacuations are taking effect as residents brace for the most powerful Atlantic storm in almost a decade.
After barreling through Haiti and Cuba, where it left behind a trail of devastation, the Category 3 hurricane will strike the Bahamas with maximum sustained winds of up to 115 mph. By tonight or early Thursday morning, it’s expected to become a Category 4 storm again with winds up to 130 mph as it nears Florida, according to an advisory issued at 8 a.m. ET by the National Hurricane Center.
A hurricane warning is already in effect for parts of Florida, from Golden Beach north all the way up to Sebastian Inlet, as well as Lake Okeechobee. The area north of Sebastian Inlet to the Fernandina Beach is also under a hurricane watch.
Meanwhile, a tropical storm warning is in effect from Chokoloskee to Golden Beach, the Florida Keys from the Seven Mile Bridge eastward, as well as Florida Bay, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The governors of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina have already declared states of emergency. They have issued stern warnings for millions of coastal dwellers to prepare to evacuate as the Hurricane Matthew moves north-northwest at about 12 mph.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott today urged coastal residents to “leave now” if they are able and warned the Sunshine State to prepare “for the worst.”
“We are preparing for the worst, we are hoping for the best and we’re not taking any chances,” Scott said at a news conference this morning. “We must prepare to be hit by a devastating hurricane.”
Florida residents in coastal areas of Duval County, including Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach, have been advised to evacuate as soon as possible today. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Brevard County’s barrier islands as well as Martin County’s Hutchinson Island, Jupiter Island, Sewall’s Point and mobile homes. In Palm Beach County, recommended — but not mandatory evacuations — are in place for the barrier islands from Boca Raton to Jupiter. Voluntary evacuations have begun in Broward, Flagler, Indian River and St. Lucie counties.
In Miami-Dade County, bridges will shut down at 8 p.m. ET ahead of the storm’s wrath. But Miami Mayor Gimenez said there are currently no evacuation plans.
Long lines at gas stations and empty shelves at grocery stores were reported in cities across the southeast United States as residents stock up on supplies and prepare to flee. Many schools are also closed and people have boarded up their beach-side homes.
In South Carolina, at least half a dozen stations along the coast are out of fuel, but officials said the state is not experiencing any shortages. Gov. Nikki Haley is ordering an evacuation of South Carolina’s coastal communities in phases because the storm has slowed slightly.
South Carolina residents in Charleston and Beauford counties as well as areas of Berkeley, Colleton, Dorchester and Jasper counties should begin evacuating today no later than 3 p.m. ET. The scope of the evacuation may expand to include other areas Thursday, including parts of Horry and Georgetown, the governor said.
“The storm did slow down, and it did move somewhat, but we are not in stable territory yet,” Haley told reporters at a news conference this morning. “If you do not leave, you are putting a law enforcement officer life in jeopardy when they have to go for you.”
In North Carolina, Cape Lookout National Seashore in Carteret County is being evacuated ahead of the storm. Superintendent Patrick Kenney said more than 100 trucks were being removed from the barrier islands and about 45 cabins were being cleared.
And in Georgia, the Glynn County Board of Commissioners has called for a voluntary evacuation of the threatened islands: St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island. Officials said mainland evacuation is not anticipated at this time.
The U.S. Coast Guard is warning the public to stay off the water, secure their boats stay clear of beaches and follow evacuation orders, as their search and rescue capabilities will be limited as Hurricane Matthew strengthens.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is advising residents in states potentially affected by Hurricane Matthew to “familiarize themselves with evacuation routes now.”
After a briefing at FEMA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., today, President Obama told reporters Hurricane Matthew is “a serious storm, and we want everybody to take it seriously as well.”
“Just remember that you can always rebuild,” Obama said. “You can always repair property. You cannot restore a life if it is lost and we want to make sure that we minimize any possible loss of life or risk to people in these areas. “
All U.S. airports remain open and fully operational. So far, flight cancellations are limited to flights to, from and through the Caribbean. The major airlines are offering customers waivers to change fees for affected flights to, from or through affected areas in the southeast United States.
ABC News’ Jeffrey Cook, Erin Dooley, Max Golembo, Alex Mallin, Ben Stein and Jason Volack contributed to this story, which was supplemented with Associated Press reporting.