Hurricane Irma pummels Florida, at least three dead including sheriff’s deputy

Hurricane Irma is pummeling Florida with powerful winds and rain after making landfall in the Florida Keys this morning.
The storm has left at least three people in the state dead, including a sheriff’s deputy, and over one million households and businesses without power.
In Miami, winds whipped around high-rise buildings at speeds approaching 100 mph, the National Weather Service said.
A 94 mph wind gust was recorded at Miami International Airport.
The winds caused a tower crane to collapse on an under-construction high-rise in Miami this morning, city officials said.
The Miami-Dade Police Department tweeted that its officers are sheltered for their safety and cannot respond to calls for service, warning residents: “DO NOT venture out!”
In Pembroke Pines north of Miami, a 109 mph wind gust was reported.
Irma this morning also brought wind gusts of 120 mph to the National Key Deer Refuge on the Florida Keys and 89 mph to Key West.
Florida Governor Rick Scott told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on “This Week” today that the Keys were “getting pounded.”
By 10am the storm’s eye was moving away from the Florida Keys, and by 11am, the storm had moved to about 80 miles south-southeast of Naples on Florida’s west coast.
Irma is forecast to move up the western coastline of Florida this afternoon, with another landfall possible later today near Fort Myers and Naples.
Wind gusts of 75 mph were recorded at the Naples Airport early today, and officials were warning people to stay indoors and away from windows.
The storm’s eye is expected to pass near Fort Myers this evening and head over Tampa overnight, bringing the storm near Cedar Key and Tallahassee, along Florida’s panhandle, by Monday morning.
The National Weather Service warned Florida residents that being in the eye of a hurricane can lead to a false sense of security: “IF winds go calm, you’re in the eye. Stay inside! Winds dramatically shift and will do so violently! STAY INSIDE!”
At a news conference today Scott warned residents not to think the “life threatening” storm is over when winds slow down, saying the dangerous storm surge can then rush in and cause fatalities.
The storm surge could reach 10 to 15 feet in the Naples area.
“You need to stay in a safe place,” Scott said. “Be prepared, listen to local evacuation advisories.”

Fatalities in Florida
As Irma bore down on Florida this morning, at least three deaths were reported in the state.
A man in Monroe County, which encompasses Key West, was killed after he lost control of a truck that carried a generator as winds whipped at tropical-storm strength, officials said.
Two other people, including a sheriff’s deputy, died in a car crash in the rain in Hardee County, which is about 60 miles inland from Sarasota, officials said. The sheriff’s deputy, identified as Julie Bridges, was a 13-year veteran of the Hardee County force, said Hardee County Sheriff Arnold Lanier.
The death toll from the hurricane in the Caribbean meanwhile has risen to 22, bringing the total number in Irma’s path who have died to at least 25.

Millions ordered to evacuate
As the monster storm neared, about 6.3 million Floridians were under evacuation orders. When evacuation orders in South Carolina and Georgia are included, the number climbs to 6.8 million.
Over 100,000 people are in shelters while others are hunkered down in their homes bracing for the storm’s impact.
Widespread power outages
By noon today, over 1.6 million customers were without power in Florida.

Tornado watch
A tornado watch is in effect today for Fort Myers, Tampa, Melbourne, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville.
One tornado was confirmed this morning in Hardee County.

Governor vows to take care of Floridians
Gov. Scott said on “This Week” that “we’re going to make sure every person in the state is taken care of to the extent we can. It’s hard to do it during a storm, but as soon as that storm passes, our first responders will be out there doing everything they can to take care of every person in the state.”
Scott said President Donald Trump has “offered every resource there is of the federal government.”
“He said he’ll be praying for us,” Scott added.
. Good Morning America.