Florida after the hurricane. "Irma" covered Florida: dramatic photos of the consequences of the hurricane

Florida was the victim of Hurricane Irma, which swept across the United States on September 10, 2017. Photos of the consequences of the elements are simply horrific. They show the damage left behind by the hurricane.

Hurricane Irma swept the coast of Florida on Sunday, September 10. According to its strength, it was assigned to the 4th category. After sweeping through the northwestern part of the state, the storm weakened, reaching the level of a tropical storm by Monday. The storm was expected to soften to a tropical depression by Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

After itself, "Irma" left serious damage:

• some houses have been completely destroyed and many people have lost their homes;
• the streets are full of fallen trees and electrical pylons;
• large areas flooded;
• boats washed ashore by the waves;
• overturned cars.

Evacuation of state residents

Before the start of the hurricane, about 6.3 million people were evacuated from the alleged disaster sites. Such data was provided by the Florida Department of Emergency Management. People left their homes, taking only the most valuable and necessary things.

The government organized the mandatory evacuation of citizens from the most dangerous regions. 4 days before the arrival of the hurricane, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a decree to that effect.

Aftermath of the hurricane

The wind speed reached 70 miles per hour (more than 110 km/h). The hurricane overturned yachts and other light boats. The photo below shows a yacht that washed up on the coast in Biscayne Bay (Florida).

In the northern part of Miami, the streets along the coast are flooded with water. People leave their homes, having collected the necessary things in garbage bags.

In addition to strong winds, Hurricane Irma brought heavy rain with it. The elements left behind destroyed houses, overturned power lines, flooded cars and fallen trees.

The photo shows Maida Estevez. This woman, like many Florida residents, was the victim of a natural disaster. She stands in a ruined house, in the middle of a room that was once a living room.

Maida Estevez's neighbor, Jorge Gonzalez, shows how much damage the hurricane caused to his property. Not only the house was damaged, but also the man's car.

After the end of the hurricane, many settlements were de-energized. More than 2 million citizens were left without electricity.

Flood

Heavy rains led to the flooding of many areas. People were forced to leave the suburbs due to increased water levels.

In Orlando, Florida, Army National Guard Spc soldier Thomas Hogan rescued a dog from a flooded area.

The photo, taken in the Daytona Beach area, shows a man moving across a flooded street.

In the North Port, the police tried to pull a car out of the water, which was badly damaged by the storm.

The hurricane peaked on Sunday (September 10). Residents of Miami and other Florida cities had to wade through flooded streets, resisting strong gusts of wind.

Elemental power

During a storm, the wind reached such force that it pulled out large trees with roots and filled up concrete power poles. The following photo shows strong construction, which fell from the onslaught of nature. A concrete pole was knocked down near an oceanfront condominium building in Boca Raton.

Most types of property were crushed under the powerful onslaught of the Irma.

An electric pole that fell on the A1A state highway in Boca Raton is being guarded by a police patrol.

Some settlements felt the effect of a natural cataclysm as much as possible. A photograph taken in Tampa shows a young man walking down Bayshore Boulevard past a fallen tree. At this time, powerful thunderclouds continue to circle over his head.

Some residential buildings in Tampa were completely destroyed by the elements.

In some areas of Miami and elsewhere, there are cars that have been overturned by gusty winds.

The next photo shows how a large truck turned over on its side, under the powerful influence of wind and flood. This photo was also taken in Miami.

The hurricane was so strong that it uprooted trees. Palm trees that had been planted not so long ago were scattered by the wind along the roads of Miami Beach.

This tree, which fell in Kissimmee, crashed to the ground a few meters from the apartment building, miraculously not catching the structure.

The following image shows a gas station in North Redington Beach where a huge structure was knocked down by a storm.

In Orlando, the siding was torn off the DoubleTree Hotel. One of the correspondents of the Swiss Public Broadcasting - Thomas von Grünigen - posted a photo of this building on Twitter. It was made on Monday morning, after the elements had subsided. The 4 upper floors were especially affected.

The gale was so strong and powerful that the sand from the beach of Fort Lauderdale moved to a nearby boulevard.

Flooding in Jacksonville breaks record set in 1964

By Monday morning, the water level reached 60.4 inches (more than 153 cm). This is significantly higher than it was during the 1964 flood.

The St. Johns River overflowed its banks. Its waters flooded the surrounding area medical center"St. Vinset" (Jacksonville).

Approximately 5.8 million homes and businesses in the states of Florida and Georgia seem to be lifeless. Residents of areas where a powerful strike of the elements was predicted, previously traveled to safe places.

HuffPost reporter Sebastian Murdoch posted on his Twitter page a photo of the empty hotel in Miramar where he was staying.

"Irma" exterminated a whole species of mammals

Hurricane Irma brought trouble not only in Florida. Having fallen on Cuba, it caused the death of a whole species of rats Capromys auritus, also called Cuban hutis.

These rodents have long been threatened with extinction. Big-eared Cuban hutias weigh 1-1.5 kg. The length of the body reaches 28 cm, and the size of the tail is approximately 18 cm.

Hurricane Irma caused the formation high waves, which hit the island and led to the flooding of a vast area of ​​mangrove forests, where this species of animals lived.

The natural disaster caused the death of several hundred iguanas. Sea sponges and corals also suffered from the hurricane.

“I have not had internet since the arrival of Irma. The hurricane did a lot of damage to Miami. Millions of Florida residents are sitting without electricity,” says Twitter user Makada.

Do not forget about the marauders who rampage in the same Miami, taking advantage of the situation. One of the YouTube users posted a video of the robbery of one of the supermarkets.

Miami-Dade County police arrested 28 people for theft and looting during Hurricane Irma.

28 arrests so far for burglary/looting. Our officers remain on patrol and the curfew is in effect until 7am. #HurricaneIrma

Earlier, law enforcement officers red-handed detained nine robbers in the city of Fort Lauderdale. The attackers tried to rob the pawnshop during the rampant elements. Similar cases were observed in Texas during the recent hurricane Harvey.

Crisis in the Florida Keys
Jane O'Brien, a BBC correspondent from Miami, has this to say about the situation in the Florida Keys:
Overall, Miami could not have had much better luck. The center of the hurricane did not pass through the city itself, but it strongly touched the Florida Keys (chain coral islands at a distance of about 25 km from the US coast). It is to the islands that the attention of rescuers is riveted.

Communication with the islands was poor as early as Friday. A number of people evacuated and stayed in the same hotel as us, and it was difficult for them to keep in touch with relatives who remained.
About 10,000 people were reportedly left on the islands to wait out the storm. We don't know what's wrong with them now.
The first thing the rescuers have to do is to check how many of the 42 bridges connecting the islands to each other have remained intact. If at least one is not functional, then problems may arise - one of the islands may be isolated.

The entire area of ​​the islands is closed - it is impossible to get there until the authorities finish assessing the damage.

The scale of the rescue operation
More than 6.5 million homes across the state of Florida remain without electricity. For example, in Collier County, 90% of the houses have no electricity. In Miami, 80% of all high-voltage wires were cut off, large areas of the city were flooded, although compared to many other parts of the state, the city did not suffer catastrophic damage. Many people report that, in addition to electricity, the water supply to their homes is intermittent.

A drone video from the city of Naples, on the Gulf of Mexico about 200 km northwest of Miami, shows rows of destroyed one-story houses and flooded streets between them.

President Donald Trump to the rescue of Florida a large sum from the budget, calling Hurricane Irma "a huge monster."

The money will go to medical care, clearing rubble, restoring electricity and repairing buildings.

Monroe County (pop. 73,000) rescue manager Martin Centerfitt says a large air force and national guard rescue mission will soon arrive in the state, according to the Miami Herald.

In the Florida Keys, which belong to Monroe County, "emergency burial teams" are to arrive as part of the mission.

The state government's director of rescue programs, Brian Kuhn, told reporters that it would be impossible to determine the exact number of victims before the rescue operation began.

As little as six inches of moving water can knock you down. Stay inside. stay safe.

Florida under the blow of "Irma": how did the hurricane survive in the USA?

Rescue and recovery efforts have begun in Florida after Hurricane Irma hit the state on Monday night. The hurricane weakened as it approached Miami, but Irma still caused significant damage to many cities in the state.

Local media report four dead. The situation on the Florida Keys, about 25 km from Miami, is described by rescuers as a humanitarian crisis.

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On the night of September 10, the wind speed in Hurricane Irma reached 160 km/h. Irma is now classified as a tropical storm and is no longer considered a hurricane.

Earlier, Irma hit Cuba, bringing torrential rains and heavy winds. According to media reports, the wind speed in Cuba reached 250 kilometers per hour, the wave height was seven meters.

Also, "Irma" almost completely destroyed the island of Barbuda, but bypassed the Bahamas.

Crisis in the Florida Keys

Jane Oh" Brian, BBC correspondent from Miami

Overall, Miami could not have had much better luck. The center of the hurricane did not pass through the city itself, but it hit the Florida Keys (a chain of coral islands about 25 km from the US coast). It is to the islands that the attention of rescuers is riveted.

Communication with the islands was poor as early as Friday. A number of people evacuated and stayed in the same hotel as us, and it was difficult for them to keep in touch with relatives who remained.

About 10,000 people were reportedly left on the islands to wait out the storm. We don't know what's wrong with them now.

The first thing the rescuers have to do is to check how many of the 42 bridges connecting the islands to each other have remained intact. If at least one is not functional, then problems may arise - one of the islands may be isolated.

The entire area of ​​the islands is closed - it is impossible to get there until the authorities finish assessing the damage.

The scale of the rescue operation

More than 3.4 million homes across the state of Florida remain without electricity. In Miami alone, 80% of all high-voltage wires were cut off, large areas of the city were flooded, although compared to many other parts of the state, the city did not suffer catastrophic damage.

On the drone video from Naples, on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, about 200 km northwest of Miami, rows of destroyed one-story houses and flooded streets between them are visible.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption South coast Florida state with its resorts suffered the most

President Donald Trump has earmarked a large budget for Florida aid, calling Hurricane Irma a "huge monster."

The money will go to medical care, clearing rubble, restoring electricity and repairing buildings.

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Saint Martin: before and after Hurricane Irma

Monroe County (population 73,000) rescue manager Martin Centerfitt says a large air force and national guard rescue mission will soon arrive in the state, according to the Miami Herald.

In the Florida Keys, which belong to Monroe County, "emergency burial teams" are to arrive as part of the mission.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Multiple fatal car crashes linked to hurricane

The state government's director of rescue programs, Brian Kuhn, told reporters that it would be impossible to determine the exact number of victims before the rescue operation began.

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Florida Gov. Rick Scott continued to tweet warnings Monday morning. "Even a running stream of water six inches deep can knock you off your feet," the governor wrote. "Stay home - stay safe," Scott tweeted.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption "Irma" according to the latest reports

What the locals say

"We constantly feel the building rocking, as if on a ship," Dimi Lomas, the owner of the restaurant and apartment in the 35-story building, told Reuters.

At least four local deaths have been linked to the hurricane.

A police officer who worked at a hurricane shelter died while driving home and collided with another car. There was also a policeman driving that car, and he also died.

A driver has died in a car accident in Orange County.

Another fatal accident occurred in the city of Marathon County Monroe.

Before the hurricane hit the state, local authorities ordered the evacuation of 6.3 million coastal residents - more than a quarter of Florida's total population.

Actually stopped work international airports Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Irma in the Caribbean

Hurricane Irma hit Florida from outside Caribbean hitting Cuba and Puerto Rico.

In the Caribbean islands, more than a million people were affected by the hurricane, according to the Red Cross. According to the organization, the strongest hurricane destroyed almost all the buildings in Barbuda and left the inhabitants of Puerto Rico without electricity, and also brought significant damage to the British Virgin Islands, the islands of Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

According to the latest data, the hurricane claimed the lives of 10 people.

The Red Cross has allocated about 600,000 Swiss francs to prepare for the rapid provision of assistance to the population that may be affected by the hurricane.

In Puerto Rico, which is an American territory, there are still 6,000 people in shelters, many more without electricity.

In Cuba, 10 people became victims of the elements, in the capital of the island, Havana, there is no electricity.

national center Hurricane Watch reports that Irma's epicenter is now 85 km east of Talahsee, Florida. The wind speed at the epicenter is about 95 km/h or 26.3 m/s. At a speed of about 28 km / h, Irma moves to the south eastern regions Georgia and is expected to affect eastern Alabama on Tuesday.

Irma was the cause of the worst flood in 100 years in Jacksonville: the historical maximum rise of waters, set in 1864, has already been overcome and the water level in some areas in the central part of the city has reached 1.2 meters.

Starting today, you can file official applications for damage caused by Irma to personal property and business. If your property is damaged by a hurricane, take supporting pictures and file a damage claim.

Atlanta has issued a tropical storm warning for the first time in the city's history. One of the largest US airports, an important transportation hub, has announced a partial closure. Delta was the first to report flight cancellations, with more than 800 flights cancelled.

Residents are starting to return from shelters to their homes. There is no information about large-scale destruction, only fallen trees are reported.

Photo by @MikeTheiss 3h

Photo by @ZacharyYatesFL

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Charleston, South Carolina. The warning is in effect until 1 a.m. local time.

The National Hurricane Center just released an updated Irma projection showing the storm approaching the Florida-Georgia border. "Irma continues to weaken as it moves through the extreme northern part of Florida," the center said.

Miami Mayor Thomas Regalado said about 72% of the city is out of power, but officials have a recovery plan. Roads are the biggest problem, Regalado said, adding that thousands of trees have been downed.

10:00 At the busiest airport in Atlanta, Georgia, about 900 flights were canceled on Monday due to Storm Irma. These cancellations account for about a third of the airport's total daily schedule.

In addition, Delta told customers who were planning to fly to Atlanta on Monday and Tuesday to change their itinerary. The airline will not charge a cancellation fee.

Southwest Airlines says it will operate reduced hours in Atlanta and Birmingham on Monday. The airline hopes to normalize operations at these airports on Tuesday.

08:50 The Florida Governor is urging people not to return to their homes until they are told.

08:30 Hurricane Irma weakened to a tropical storm with wind gusts up to 112 km/h. It is expected to weaken further as it continues to move further inland.

07:30 Hurricane Irma has weakened to Category 1 and is located 80 km from the Tampa Bay area with a population of about three million people. At least three people have already died in the south of the state. Now in the forecasts - the flood, which has already begun in Miami.

The hurricane is losing strength, the maximum sustainable wind speed is up to 140 km / h.

Although the force of the elements is weakening, it should be feared until at least the end of Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

7:00 The National Hurricane Center is also warning of a tornado threat across northeast Florida, southeast Georgia and South Carolina through Tuesday morning.

6:30 Hurricane Irma was the most powerful tropical hurricane on the Atlantic coast of the United States in a decade and caused massive damage to several island states Caribbean:

• Cuba: casualties are not reported, although the authorities recalled significant losses. There is no electricity in Havana.

Photo: twitter/picworld‏
@picworldru

• Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy: 60% of all houses on the island of Saint-Martin, which is divided between France and the Netherlands into two parts, unsuitable for life, said the French authorities. On the French part of the island, nine people were killed, seven people were missing. Four people died on the Dutch territory of the island.
• Turks and Caicos, British overseas territory: significant destruction.
• Antigua and Barbuda: 95% of the buildings on this small island are destroyed; Prime Minister Gaston Brown reported that the restoration would cost $100,000,000. One person died.
• Anguilla: significant damage, one person died
• Puerto Rico: More than six thousand residents of this American territory are hiding in shelters and many have been left without electricity. At least three people have died.
• British Virgin Islands: five people died, severe damage.

• US Virgin Islands: four people were killed, infrastructure was badly damaged

6:00 What do we know about Hurricanes Jose and Katya?

Hurricane Jose, which followed Hurricane Irma, has a Category 4 wind speed around its perimeter reaching 190 km per hour. It initially threatened the same areas hit by Hurricane Irma, but by now it has veered northward towards the open ocean.

Hurricane Katya, which originated in the Gulf of Mexico, is a Category 1 tropical storm. It hit the Mexican state of Veracruz on Friday evening and then turned into a tropical anticyclone.

Hurricane Irma has weakened to a Category 2 of five but continues to move inland. Its speed just after midnight is about 50 meters per second. Several people have already died in the south of the state. Now in the forecasts - the flood, which has already begun in Miami.