While Texas recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, the East and Gulf coasts of the US are now bracing for Hurricane Irma as Florida Governor Rick Scott declares a state of emergency as it strengthens into a category 4 storm.
“Today, given these forecasts and the intensity of this storm, I have declared a state of emergency for every county in Florida to make certain that state, federal and local governments are able to work together and make sure resources are dispersed to local communities as we get prepared for this storm,” the governor said in a statement.
“In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best and, while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared. This state of emergency allows our emergency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Floridians without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape.”
In areas of South Florida,…