TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- "This storm will kill you."
Governor Rick Scott had stern words for Floridians Thursday morning as he urged everyone in Hurricane Matthew's path to take safe refuge.
"Evacuate, evacuate, evacuate. Are you willing to take a chance to risk your life? Are you willing to take a gamble? That's what you're doing."
Gov. Scott was in Tallahassee Thursday morning to address the state's preparations for the storm.
"We don't know exactly where this storm's going. Don't trust this track. Don't take a chance," he urged.
Matthew is approaching Florida as a Category 3 Thursday morning, however the storm is expected to get stronger and turn into a Category 4 storm as it travels along Florida's east coast.
Governor Scott announced Thursday that he is activating an additional 1,000 National Guard members to help with Hurricane Matthew response and recovery efforts. There are 2,500 members now activated. There are over 4,000 National Guard members ready to be deployed if needed.
Around 1.5 million Floridians are currently under evacuation orders.
CURRENT EVACUATIONS
o Brevard County: Mandatory Evacuations of Merritt Island, barrier island, low-lying areas and mobile homes.
o Broward County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for mobile homes and low lying areas.
o Clay County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
o DeSoto County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for manufactured homes, RVs and low lying areas.
o Duval County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
o Flagler County: Mandatory evacuations have begun.
o Indian River: Mandatory evacuations have begun for barrier islands, mobile homes, and low lying areas.
o Martin County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for barrier islands, low-lying areas, and mobile homes.
o Miami-Dade County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for mobile homes, low-lying, and unstable structures.
o Nassau County: Voluntary evacuations have begun.
o Palm Beach County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for barrier islands, mobile homes, substandard housing, flood prone areas, and those living in high rises close to the Intracoastal Waterway. Mandatory evacuations begin today.
o St. Johns County: Mandatory evacuation orders have begun.
o St. Lucie County: Voluntary evacuations have begun for barrier islands, mobile homes, and low lying areas. Mandatory evacuations begin today.
o Volusia County: Mandatory evacuations have begun for barrier islands, low-lying areas, and mobile homes.
