Hurricane Matthew Threatens Florida, the Carolinas

As Hurricane Matthew lashed Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean Tuesday, people along the U.S. East Coast prepared for the storm's expected move north.

The category 4 storm could hit the Bahamas by 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the latest forecasts by the National Hurricane Center. Then it may veer northwest to bring rain, high winds and storm surges to Florida's coast starting Thursday.

The storm, described by the hurricane center as "extremely dangerous," isn't likely to reach landfall on the continental U.S. until Saturday morning, somewhere around the South Carolina/North Carolina border. At that time, the storm may lose some of its intensity, according to the center's latest forecast.

Governors of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas have declared states of emergency.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that she ordered evacuations of coastal communities to begin Wednesday. She urged people to fill up on gasoline and drive at least 100 miles inland. Medical evacuations of the coast began Tuesday afternoon and the state mobilized 1,800 National Guard troops to help clear the area.

"If Hurricane Matthew directly impacts Florida, there could be massive destruction which we haven't seen since Hurricane Andrew devastated Miami-Dade County in 1992," Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Monday in a release.

The storm already has complicated air travel to and from the Caribbean and southern Florida.

Some airlines began to preemptively cancel a few flights to keep their passengers and planes out of harm's way. Many offered waivers so fliers could change their travel dates without incurring change fees or fare changes.

As of Tuesday afternoon, flight-tracking service FlightAware.com listed 447 flights canceled worldwide, including 89 within, to or from the U.S. The hardest hit airports appeared to be Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Havana, Cuba. Airline officials said several airports in Haiti and Cuba were still closed.

American Airlines Group Inc., showed the most cancellations, according to FlightAware. Cubana, the flag carrier of Cuba, had some, along with Southwest Airlines Co. and JetBlue Airways Corp. If Matthew makes landfall in Florida or even comes close to the shoreline, it is likely more flights will be scrubbed in the coming days. But the storm's path for now isn't clear.

Along the southern Atlantic Coast, people rushed to buy staples such as bread and milk or things they needed to protect themselves or their property. Thomas White said his family owned Hall Hardware Inc. in West Palm Beach, Fla., saw a 400% increase in business Tuesday. He said all hurricane-preparations items—plywood, screws, lanterns, batteries and other goods—had been sold out by early afternoon.

"We're seeing a big rush," said Mr. White, 32 years old.

The weather in South Florida Tuesday, however, was sunny and warm. Tony Chateauvert, head golf professional and manager at the Town of Palm Beach's golf course, right near the ocean, said he was watching the forecasts and would decide Wednesday morning whether to start closing up the clubhouse and storing equipment.

"We have to wait to see what the storm is really going to do before we panic," he said.

Write to Cameron McWhirter at [e-mail] and Susan Carey at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 04, 2016 22:05 ET (02:05 GMT)

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