Hurricane Hermine Kills at Least One Person in Florida

Hurricane Hermine has killed at least one person in Florida and caused severe damage along the state’s northern Gulf Coast.

Hermine is the first hurricane to hit Florida in eleven years.

As the storm pushed into Georgia, it knocked down power lines leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

Gusts of 80mph caused storm surges that flooded part of the coast.

Photo NASA

In Cedar Key, waters rose more than 9.5ft, among the highest surges ever seen, according to the National Weather Service.

After making landfall on September 2 in the morning, Hurricane Hermine swept through Florida and, weakening to a tropical storm, is now making its way towards South Carolina.

A tropical storm warning was issued for parts of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City, the National Hurricane Center said.

The US Coast Guard also warned boaters and swimmers along the New York and New Jersey coasts to use caution in what is expected to be rough surf and hazardous rip currents this weekend.

Police in Taylor County, Florida, that has a population of more than 20,000, said the storm had inflicted “severe damage”.

In Tallahassee, where people were urged to move to higher ground to avoid flash floods, at least 70,000 homes were without power at one point, affecting 60% of people in the region.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott had earlier declared a state of emergency for 51 counties across the state.

According to weather officials, Hurricane Hermine could bring heavy rains along the East Coast in the coming days.

In Georgia, Gov. Nathan Deal also declared a state of emergency, for 56 counties, but the state was spared the havoc it had expected.

“We’re having a bit of a sigh of relief,” said Jim Butterworth, director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.

However, 107,000 customers were reported to be without power across the state as crews worked to repair damage.

Some models show that Hurricane Hermine will stall near the New Jersey coast next week, potentially bringing prolonged heavy rain to the area.