WASHINGTON: Residents in Florida's coastal areas were issued warnings to brace themselves for hurricane Hermine, the first to hit the US state since 2005.
Calling Hermine "life-threatening", Florida Governor Rick Scott on Thursday warned of the danger of potentially strong storm surge, high wind and large-scale power outages and urged people in the hurricane's path to hoard at least three days of supplies and to retreat to inland shelters if necessary, Xinhua news agency reported.
"The most important thing we all must put in our minds is that this is life-threatening," said Scott at a press conference in Tallahassee.
So far, a state of emergency had been declared for 51 of Florida's 67 counties.
According to an advisory released by the US National Hurricane Centre, Hermine was expected to reach Florida's Gulf Coast early Friday.