by Monica Poling
Last updated: 3:17 PM ET, Sun September 10, 2017
UPDATE 7:00 p.m. AST
After causing widespread grief throughout southern Florida much of the day, including flooding, heavy winds, tornadoes and storm surges, Hurricane Irma hit landfall a second time at around 3 p.m. in the vicinity of Marco Island. The slow moving hurricane then arrived at Fort Myers a couple hours later, with Tampa in its crosshairs.
Although Hurricane Irma has since been downgraded to a Category 2 storm, its maximum wind gusts are still swirling at more than 100 mph. After Tampa, the storm is predicted to keep moving north, arriving in Atlanta by Monday morning...still packing a healthy wallop, with wind gusts clocking in at more than 60 mph.
While Irma has followed a trajectory along the western part of the state, there is not one part of Florida that is unaffected by the storm. By 7 p.m. local time, nearly 3 million people were without power.
In Sarasota, Florida, just south of Tampa, the hurricane's powerful "reverse surge" effect pulled so much water into the ocean, it left several manatees stranded. Instagrammer @michaelvstheworld snapped the moment and fortunately, the post went viral and local agencies were able to help rescue the stranded mammals.
Hurricane Irma has racked up a number of firsts. It is the first time in recorded history that two Category 4 hurricanes have made landfall in the United States. It is also the first time in history that the city of Atlanta has been under a tropical storm warning. Hurricane Irma also was the cause of one of the biggest evacuations in American history.
It will also be the first time in nearly a century that Tampa has been pummeled by a hurricane.
At a press conference on Sunday, Tampa's mayor Bob Buckhorn paraphrased boxer Mike Tyson when describing the hurricane's pending arrival.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face," said Buckhorn. "We're about to get punched in the face."
The mayor has also said that first responders and law enforcement officers have suspended services for their safety. But, said the mayor, Tampa is ready.
"So look out for your neighbors, take care of each other," he said. "This is when we are Tampa strong. This is what we do."
As Hurricane Irma makes its way north, Hartsfield-Jackson-Atlanta International Airport is warning of potential service disruptions and Delta Air Lines is encouraging travelers connecting in Atlanta on Monday or Tuesday to change their flights.
ORIGINAL TEXT
After making landfall at Cudjoe Key just after 9 a.m. on Sunday morning, Hurricane Irma slowly moved north along Florida's western coast.
The powerful Category 4 Hurricane-which had been downgraded to a Category 3 on Saturday, but strengthened early Sunday morning-is slamming the state with wind gusts up to 100 mph, heavy rainfall, tornadoes and "life-threatening" storm surges.
"Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions," urged the National Hurricane Center in a recent alert. "Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials."
[CALLOUT]
Three people, including a sheriff's deputy, have died and more than 1.5 million Florida residents are without power, including more than 700,000 in Miami-Dade County and another 450,000 in Broward County-where Fort Lauderdale is located-according to the Florida Disaster website.
Although Miami was originally anticipated to be directly in the path of the eye of the hurricane, a shift sent the storm barreling along Florida's west coast instead.
The shift could prove to be catastrophic for Florida's western cities, like Tampa, which the Washington Post called "'woefully ill-equipped' to confront a storm of this size." Many Florida residents from the eastern half of the state had originally retreated to Tampa as a safer haven before the hurricane shifted path.
Despite the storm's shift, it is causing chaos around the state. The storm's hurricane-force winds extend up to 80 miles from the center while its tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 220 miles according to the National Hurricane Center. By comparison, Florida is less than 200 miles wide through the main part of the peninsula.
In Miami, storm surges flooded Brickell, the city's financial center.
Additionally, Miami police reminded residents that city services are being affected by the high winds and asked residents not to venture out during the storm.
As Irma moves away from the Florida Keys, local officials, the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center are urging residents not to be lulled into complacency by diminishing winds.
"Do not venture outside when the calm eye of the hurricane passes over, as dangerous winds will return very quickly when the eye moves away," warned the National Hurricane Center.
"Winds dramatically shift and will do so violently," tweeted the National Weather Service Key West center.
By midday Sunday, Irma's eye had started to move away from the Keys to make its way north. A second landfall is expected later Sunday with meteorologists predicting a possible hit at Naples or Fort Myers. It could then reach Tallahassee by Monday morning.
According to the NBC weather model, meteorologists predict the storm's wind gusts will diminish to 45 mph by the time it reaches Tallahassee. Even so, the storm will continue to move northward, possibly reaching Atlanta by Tuesday morning and even reaching as far north as Nashville by Wednesday morning.
More than 500,000 people in Georgia and 44,000 in South Carolina have been ordered to evacuate by Sunday evening.
Airports are closed throughout Florida. The Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport has largely closed to commercial traffic, although some Delta flights are operational on a limited basis.
Walt Disney World has announced that it is closing all parks and canceling all events for Sunday and Monday.
"Resort hotels will remain open, though services and amenities will be adjusted," wrote Disney on its Hurricane Irma update page. Disney also announced that its reservations center will remain closed through Monday.
Florida Governor Rick Scott promised to "make sure every person in the state is taken care of to the extent we can," during an interview with "This Week" (h/t ABC News.) "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."
More Hurricane Irma Coverage
Irma's Toll on Caribbean Life, Infrastructure and Tourism
travAlliancemedia Caribbean and Latin America executive editor Brian Major broke down the structural, financial and emotional destruction in the region left behind by Hurricane Irma in an in-depth feature. Also, read a report on rebuilding efforts as Caribbean islands start to pick up the pieces.
A Post-Irma Guide to Vacationing in the Caribbean
The Caribbean Tourism Organization has provided an island-by-island status report throughout the Caribbean.
Mark Murphy Talks Irma
President and CEO of travAlliancemedia Mark Murphy was a guest on FOX 29 Philadelphia Wednesday and provided travelers with some helpful insight regarding what to expect and how to prepare for a storm as massive as the category five Hurricane Irma.
FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is looking for reservists, who work on a "temporary, on call and intermittent basis" to help with ongoing recovery efforts.
Travel Insurance
Wondering if your travel insurance will cover you in the case of Hurricane Irma? TravelPulse has all the information you need.
Theme Parks
What you need to know if you have a Florida theme park vacation planned during Hurricane Irma.
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