Hurricane Irma: Virginia Governor Declares State Of Emergency

RICHMOND, VA — Virginia has joined Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas in declaring states of emergency as Hurricane Irma makes its way toward the U.S. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe issued the state of emergency Friday as a precaution for Virginia and to assist other states affected by the storm.

“It is unfortunate that just as our nation has begun the process to repair the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Harvey, that we are faced with another extreme storm,” said McAuliffe in a statement. “However, if there is one lesson we can take from the tragic events that occurred in Texas, it is that we must redouble our preparation efforts."

It remains unclear what path Irma will take, but the governor says chances of the storm impacting Virginia is becoming more likely. The state will begin mobilizing the National Guard and other resources, positioning them where they are most needed during rescue and recovery efforts. Virginia's Emergency Operations Center will be staffed throughout the weekend in preparation for the storm and will run 24/7 when the storm hits.

Watch: Florida Braces As Irma Rips Across The Caribbean

From a Mid-Atlantic-area perspective, Irma will be significantly less severe than what's expected in southeastern states and Caribbean. The National Weather Service's Baltimore-Washington branch says Irma would impact the Mid-Atlantic region between Monday and Wednesday. If Irma gets close to the area, flooding and isolated tornadoes are possible. If Irma stays farther away, moderate rain and clouds are more likely. Coastal areas would see strong winds and storm surge, while flooding would be possible along the coasts and rivers across the state.

McAuliffe encouraged Virginia residents via Twitter to "stay prepared, monitor weather, be safe, be smart." NWS encourages Virginia families and businesses to prepare disaster plans and emergency kits. And residents should be aware of hurricane evacuation routes and monitor the NWS tropical webpage as the storm nears for updates about the region.

SEE ALSO:

• Hurricane Irma: 'Freight Train' Of A Storm Barrels Toward Florida, Georgia And The Carolinas
• Hurricane Irma: Virginia First Responders Ready To Help Impacted Areas

Irma has weakened to a Category 4 storm, but storms have already devastated the Caribbean region and could pose the same threat to the southeastern U.S. So far, Irma has claimed at least 20 lives as it swept through the Caribbean. As of 5 a.m. Friday Irma is 55 miles northeast of the Great Inagua Island and nearly 500 miles southeast of Miami.

Authorities are preparing for the worst in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas as Hurricane Irma continues its destructive path. Evacuations have been ordered for the Florida Keys, parts of Florida and north into Georgia.

The storm is expected to make landfall in southern Florida Sunday morning. Hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of southern Florida, while hurricane watches are in effect into the central region, according to the National Hurricane Center. Irma could directly hit the Carolinas and Georgia, but forecasters say it's too early to predict the severity and location of the impacts.

Image by Steve Helber/Associated Press