Hurricane Irma: Latest Need-To-Know Facts

MIAMI, FL — Once the angriest Atlantic storm on record, Hurricane Irma exited Florida Monday after delivering some major hits to the Sunshine State, ravaging the Florida Keys but mostly sparing the heavily populated Miami-Dade County and Tampa Bay-St Petersburg areas before slugging the First Coast with massive flooding. Downgraded to a weak tropical storm, Irma continued north to inflict misery on Georgia and Atlanta, which is under its first tropical storm warning in history. Eastern Alabama and Tennessee are expected to feel Irma’s wrath Monday night and into Tuesday.

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Watch: Hurricane Irma Weakens To A Tropical Storm, But It's Still Dangerous

Here are the latest need-to-know facts; share this post on social media with neighbors who may have lost power:

• Hurricane Irma: The massive, 400-mile-wide storm has claimed at least three lives in Florida, but officials feared more had died after surveying damage in the Florida Keys, where Irma made landfall early Sunday morning. About 7.7 million people have lost power, and while some 23,000 utility workers from across the country are fanning out across the state, it may be several days before power is restored as downed power lines are like spaghetti strewn in the street. The safety of bridges is also in question. In its 8 a.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said Irma was swirling about 105 miles north-northwest of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
• Irma's effect on World Rowing Championships: Sarasota is due to host to the World Rowing Championships Sept. 23 to Oct. 1. Will it still happen?
• Tampa Bay cleanup begins: Cleanup is underway in the Tampa Bay area, which was spared a major blow when the storm shifted.
• Miami Beach temporarily closed: Irma left Miami Beach riddled with debris and downed power lines making it "extremely dangerous for entry." A curfew is in effect.
• Traffic signals out: The St. Petersburg Emergency Operations Center has requested traffic control officers help man intersections.
• Death shows generator dangers: Officials in Miami-Dade County said one person died from carbon monoxide poisoning after using an auxiliary power generator.
• Water, wastewater system problems: Crews are busy plugging water line leaks in Sarasota, officials in Bradenton are asking residents in areas without power to limit water usage to prevent sewer backups and the water system in Cocoa is failing. In St. Pete, some 20,000 gallons of sewage spilled after lift stations failed because of power losses. A similar situation was reported in Lakeland.
• Jacksonville flooding: Flooding could be a weeklong event after a serious storm surge.
• Why Miami was spared: Patch's Paul Scicchitano reports on his conversation with The Weather Channel's Bryan Norccross, who explains why Miami was spared by Irma.

You may also want to read about what to do with extra hurricane supplies, PortMiami reopening and Port Tampa Bay reopening plans, a National Guard couple who tied the knot in a hurricane, getting around Tampa, West Palm Beach rescues, continuing restrictions in the Pinellas, Pasco County schools plans, a puppy left to die, how Kristen Bell kept evacuees entertained, alligators and manatees dredged up by the storm, the latest on air traffic and fare offers from Jet Blue, damage assessments in Polk County, how you can watch Irma on live webcams, a hurricane baby boom, looters caught on camera in Miami and Orlando, a crafty car dealer who took parking garage spots intended for residents, how flamingos at Busch Gardens weathered the storm, evacuees who left pets behind, how to report a power outage and shark myths spinning around the internet.

A patient is evacuated by boat from the St. Vincent's Medical Center after floodwaters from Hurricane Irma covered the first floor of the hospital in Jacksonville, Fla. Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, (AP Photo/John Raoux)