Carlos Barria/Reuters
Florida Gov. Rick Scott made one final appeal to residents in South Florida to flee on Saturday as Hurricane Irma’s heavy winds and rain began to affect the area. Warning of a dangerous storm surge that could reach 12 feet, Scott said, “This will cover your house. You will not survive all this storm surge. This is a life-threatening situation.” The storm was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane early Saturday as it raked northern Cuba, but meteorologists expect it to restrengthen before it hits the Florida Keys on Sunday morning. At least 25,000 residents have already lost power as the storm’s outer bands grip the state, Scott said. “If you have been ordered to evacuate, you need to leave now. Do not wait. Evacuate. Not tonight, not in an hour. You need to go right now,” he said. “Just remember this: Once the storm starts, law enforcement cannot save you.”