Florida governor: Florida must prepare for the worst

Florida Governor Rick Scott said Tuesday morning that the public needs to prepare for Hurricane Matthew.

Scott talked about Hurricane Matthew's track and the storm's potential impact on Florida.

"Direct hurricane impacts are possible," Scott said. "We cannot rule out a direct hit on Florida."

Scott said Florida can expect see impacts from the hurricane beginning Wednesday and through the weekend. Impacts from Hurricane Matthew could include:

• Heavy rain
• Rip currents
• Beach erosion
• Tornadoes
• Hurricane-force winds

Even if the storm remains off the coast, tropical storm-force winds could extend across the state.

"We must prepare for the worst," Scott said.

Evacuations maybe ordered as the storm approaches Florida. The FloridaDisaster.org has information on road closures, evacuations and shelters.

"It is very important to know where shelters are in case you need to evacuate. Now is the time to know what your evacuation plan is," Scott said.

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Scott has said he has remained in constant communication with state and local leaders who are working to ensure that Florida is prepared for the storm.

There are about 200 members of the Florida National Guard that have been activated to support hurricane preparedness and response. There are also more than 6,000 guardsmen ready to be deployed if needed, Scott said.

“The Florida Department of Transportation is making sure roads are clear for possible evacuations," Scott said. "The Florida Highway Patrol has made contact with local troops in preparation for supporting evacuations in the major corridors so people can be moved to safety. The state has been in contact with fuel industry partners and at this time, there are no reported supply, distribution or retail fuel shortages."

Scott is scheduled to give updates throughout the day, Tuesday. One of his scheduled stops is the Nassau County Emergency Operations Center in Yulee, where he is expected to give an update around 3:15 p.m.

Scott declared a state of emergency earlier this week for every county in Florida in response to the possible threat of Hurricane Matthew.

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