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Published 21:58 IST, August 30th 2019

Hurricane Dorian: Florida prepares for 'absolute monster' storm

As hurricane Dorian has strengthened to Category 2 storm, numerous inhabitants of Florida are powerlessly arranging for an "absolute monster" of a hurricane.

Reported by: Divyam Jain
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Florida prepares for Dorian
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As hurricane Dorian has strengthened to a Category 2 storm and is expected to approach Florida peninsula through the weekend, numerous inhabitants are powerlessly arranging for what President Donald Trump said could be an "absolute monster" of a hurricane. "All signs are it will hit very hard and it will be very big," Trump said in a video he tweeted August 29 night, contrasting Dorian with Hurricane Andrew, which crushed South Florida in 1992.

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'Category 2 storm to become Category 4 hurricane soon'

The National Hurricane Center said the Category 2 hurricane is relied upon to reinforce into a possibly cataclysmic Category 4 with winds of 130 mph (209 kph) and hammer into the U.S. on September 1 somewhere close to the Florida Keys and southern Georgia — a 500-mile (805-kilometer) extend that mirrored the high level of vulnerability this out of sight. “If it makes landfall as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, that’s a big deal,” said University of Miami hurricane researcher Brian McNoldy. “A lot of people are going to be affected. A lot of insurance claims.”

READ: NASA Captures Hurricane Dorian From International Space Station, Watch

Authorities begin acting 

With the storm's track still unclear, no prompt mass evacuations were requested. Along Florida's east coast, nearby governments started distributing sandbags, customers hurried to stock up on nourishment, compressed wood, and other crisis supplies at markets and home improvement shops, and drivers finished off their tanks and filled gas jars. Some fuel deficiencies were reported in the Cape Canaveral territory. Jeff Byard, an associate administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), warned that Dorian is likely to “create a lot of havoc with infrastructure, power, and roads,” but gave assurances FEMA is prepared to handle it, despite the fact that the Trump administration is moving a huge number of dollars from FEMA and different agencies to manage migration at the Mexican border. “This is going to be a big storm. We’re prepared for a big response,” Byard said.

READ: Hurricane Dorian: $260 Million, Emergency Fund Approved In Puerto Rico

Cruise ships reroute as Florida declares emergency

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency, clearing the way to bring in more fuel and call out the National Guard if necessary, and Georgia’s governor followed suit. Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian began rerouting their cruise ships. Significant aircrafts started enabling voyagers to change their reservations without an expense. The tropical storm season commonly tops between mid-August and late October. One of the most dominant tempests at any point to hit the U.S. was on Labor Day 1935. The anonymous Category 5 hurricane smashed aground along Florida's Gulf Coast on Sept. 2. It was blamed for over 400 deaths.

READ: Hurricane Dorian Heads For Florida After Brushing Caribbean Islands

(with inputs from AP)

14:07 IST, August 30th 2019