Just before 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, Hurricane Irma made contact with land for the first time, as her eye passed directly over the island of Barbuda.
With sustained winds up to 185 mph, Irma, which the National Hurricane Center is calling "potentially catastrophic" has become the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history.
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Not much information is available as to the extent of damage in Barbuda, which is home to a small population of just 2,000 people. Phone lines in the island nation have gone down according to reports from a local radio station.
Irma's Path
As of its latest updated (posted at 2:00 a.m. AST), the National Hurricane Center has predicted that Irma will "move near or over portions of the northern Virgin Islands Wednesday and then pass near or just north of Puerto Rico late Wednesday and Wednesday night.
If power is knocked out in Puerto Rico, some residents fear that the island might be without electricity for four to six months, according to the Washington Post.
Although it remains too early to fully predict what will happen, the NHC has issued a hurricane warning for a number of islands including Antigua, Anguilla, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Martin and the Virgin Islands.
"Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma is forecast to remain a powerful Category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days," the NHC said.
A hurricane warning, according to the NHC, is typically issued "36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds." It also comes with the proviso that "preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion."
It is expected that after Irma hits Puerto Rico she could veer off towards Cuba and the Bahamas later in the week and ultimately reach the eastern coast of the United States by the weekend, affecting Florida and possibly even the Carolinas.
State of Emergency
On late Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
President Trump's announcement follows that of Florida governor Rick Scott, who also declared a state of emergency for all 67 counties across the state on Monday afternoon.
"Hurricane Irma poses a severe threat to the entire State of Florida and requires that timely precautions are taken to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of this State," read the executive order signed by Scott.
He also turned to Twitter to encourage Florida residents to use Labor Day to buy supplies and updated disaster kits.
Ahead of the storm, cash-strapped Puerto Rico had also already declared a state of emergency, according to Fox News.
"Despite the economic challenges Puerto Rico is facing, the approved budget has $15 million for the emergency fund," said Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rosselló in a statement.
The National Guard has also been activated in the U.S. territory.
If Irma does make landfall, this will be the first time in more than 100 years that two Category 4 or stronger hurricanes hit land within the same year, according to Oklahoma's Koko 5 News.
As Irma continues to pick up steam, information about the storm is changing rapidly. Not all media coverage, however, is necessarily current or even accurate.
In an article at Forbes.com, noted Meteorologist Marshall Shepherd reminded travelers (and everyone) to get their updates from a trusted source such as the National Hurricane Center.
More Hurricane Irma Coverage
Airlines Making Changes
As a result of the major storm, airlines in Florida and throughout the Caribbean are watching the warnings from the National Hurricane Center in order to keep passengers safe through delays and cancellations.
Cruise Itineraries
All major cruise lines with itineraries in the Caribbean have modified schedules and/or canceled cruises
Travel Insurance
Visit this post If you're wondering if your travel insurance will cover you in the case of Hurricane Irma.
Special thanks to Donald Wood and Patrick Clarke for contributing to this report.
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