Hurricane Irma gathered new strength early Sunday as it approached the Florida Keys – regaining Category 4 status. But hours before Irma was due in Florida, more than 170,000 homes and businesses in Florida had already lost electrical power. "This is going to sneak up on people," said Jamie Rhome, head of the hurricane center's storm surge unit. With the new forecast, Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg, ordered 260,000 people to leave, while Georgia scaled back evacuation orders for some residents of the state's Atlantic shore. Motorists heading inland from the Tampa area were allowed to drive on the shoulder.

Source: Fox News September 10, 2017 06:34 UTC