Florida gov: ‘You need to leave’ before Irma

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) spoke publicly on Friday about the need for Florida residents to evacuate in the face of Hurricane Irma, warning those living in evacuation areas that they would not be rescued until conditions improve.

In an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Scott said that the hurricane, downgraded Friday to Category 4, would likely travel up the spine of the Florida peninsula.

“This thing’s coming,” he warned. “It looks like it’s going to go right through the middle of our state.”

Scott warned residents to care for their families and ensure that everyone evacuates.

“If you’re in an evacuation zone, you’ve got to get out,” Scott said. “You can’t wait. The roads will get worse when it gets out, I’ve closed all the schools, K-12 to state colleges and universities, to open up more shelters.”

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Scott told reporters that weather analysts predict Irma will make landfall with more intensity than Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which killed more than 60 people.

“It’s a massive storm, it can be devastating,” Scott said Friday. “It’s gonna be way bigger than Andrew.”

The governor warned residents to act quickly, saying once the hurricane hits it will be too late. 

“We cannot save you in the middle of the storm.”

Irma is expected to make landfall in the state late Saturday with winds reported over 185 mph. A state of emergency has been declared for Florida, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Irma will be the second hurricane to sweep through the U.S. in recent weeks, after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in southeast Texas and later Louisiana, leaving a trail of devastation.

So far, at least 18 people have died from Irma, and an official in St. Martin said 95 percent of the island was destroyed after the storm hit earlier this week.