Florida rep: ‘We need to be evacuating’ as storm approaches

Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) is urging Floridians to evacuate as Hurricane Michael barrels toward the Florida Panhandle, threatening to escalate into a Category 3 storm.

“We think in Florida that we’re old hands at hurricanes,” Dunn said on CNN’s “New Day. “Our first responders … they are telling you that this is the worst storm that any of us have seen in our lifetime in this area of the state.”

{mosads}”We need to be evacuating,” he said. “You need to be on the road today, this morning and evacuating.”

Rep. Neal Dunn: “We think in Florida that we’re old hands at hurricanes. Our EOCs, our first responders … are telling you this is the worst storm that any of us have seen in our lifetimes … We need to be evacuating.” pic.twitter.com/U208kh6rqt

— New Day (@NewDay) October 9, 2018

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) declared a state of emergency for Florida over the weekend ahead of the storm, which is anticipated to strengthen into a hurricane and hit the coast on Wednesday, according to CNN.

Michael is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. 

“It’s a big storm,” Scott said Monday during a press conference, according to USA Today. “We haven’t seen anything like this in the Panhandle in decades.”

The National Hurricane Center has warned Michael could be “life-threatening” due to the flooding and winds it is expected to generate.

Meteorologists are predicting there will be heavy rainfall and strong winds in Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina as well. 

Florida candidates for governor and the Senate this week put their campaigns on hold ahead of the storm. 

#HurricaneMichael isn’t heading to any one town…
There are warnings for more than 300 miles of coastline. It’s forecast to be a large and dangerous hurricane at landfall.
✔️Life-threatening storm surge
✔️Damaging winds
✔️Life-threatening flash floodinghttps://t.co/VyWINDk3xP pic.twitter.com/nsHYkBjy2r

— NWS (@NWS) October 8, 2018