Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Keys, Caribbean Isles Evacuate for Ike

Category 3 storm expected to hit Turks and Caicos today

By Michael Foreman,  Newser User

Posted Sep 6, 2008 3:36 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Tourists and locals are fleeing the Florida Keys and Caribbean islands as Hurricane Ike closes in today, CNN reports. Forecasters predict Ike will slam into the Turks and Caicos islands late today or early tomorrow with Category 3 winds near 115 mph and 9- to 12-foot-high waves. The storm is then expected to churn northwest on Monday, over the Keys and toward the Gulf of Mexico.

The British government has struggled to evacuate visitors to Turks and Caicos, and Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency in Florida. "We continue to watch with much concern the track of Hurricane Ike," Crist said. Forecasters say the storm will stay strong over the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters and strike anywhere between Texas and Alabama by mid-next week.

This image provided by NASA from the Terra satellite shows Hurricane Ike off the Lesser Antilles as it approaches the Bahamas Sept. 4, 2008.
This image provided by NASA from the Terra satellite shows Hurricane Ike off the Lesser Antilles as it approaches the Bahamas Sept. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/NASA)
Residents Tavernier Key board up a business as Hurricane Ike heads toward Florida.
Residents Tavernier Key board up a business as Hurricane Ike heads toward Florida.   (AP Photo)
People wait for one of the last planes to get off the Island of Providenciales before Hurricane Ike strikes the area, in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Sept. 6, 2008.
People wait for one of the last planes to get off the Island of Providenciales before Hurricane Ike strikes the area, in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Sept. 6, 2008.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Ike churns toward Cuba
Yahoo

Hard to predict Ike's path more than 3 days: experts
WFTV Orlando

US

 
evacuation • Turks and Caicos Islands • Gulf Coast • Florida Keys • Hurricane Ike

More Newser Stories

Ike Returnees Battle Chronic Mold Outbreak

Media Focus Elsewhere Hurts Gulf Coast Relief Efforts

Texas Makes Little Headway in Recovery From Ike

Ike Boosts Gas Prices Up to $5

Galveston Resort Turns Into Storm Central
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne