Irma: Florida governor says 'the best thing you can do now is pray'
He told people to pray, donate and volunteer, in that order
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Your support makes all the difference.Florida Governor Rick Scott said in the hours before a record-breaking storm hit Florida that the “first thing” people around the world should do was pray.
Speaking to ABC News as the Category 4 storm approached the US, Mr Scott said: “The first thing I ask everybody to do is pray for us.
“I know a lot of people around the world want to help – the biggest thing you can do now is pray, you can donate by texting DISASTER at 20222 or you can volunteer, we need volunteers.”
His words come as Irma pounded the Florida Keys just off the southern coast of the Sunshine State with winds of up to 130mph, after ripping through the Caribbean and killing at least 25 people.
Within hours of making landfall in mainland US, three people have been killed.
Mr Scott warned that a storm surge was expected along the entire west coast of the state, measuring 15 feet above ground level in some areas.
The National Weather Service also announced several tornado warnings across the state.
Florida Power & Light Company said almost 1.1 million customers across the state were without power.
Close to 400 shelters have opened in Florida.
More than six million people were asked to evacuate, although many people said the lack of gas, jammed traffic and expensive flights made it difficult to leave.
Asked about the lack of gas on Saturday, Mr Scott told CBS, "We've worked hard to get as much fuel in the state as possible."
Other elected officials offered to pray, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who tweeted: “Heidi [Cruz] and I are lifting up in prayer all in the path of #Irma.”
President Trump called a cabinet meeting at Camp David. A picture of the meeting shows the officials, heads bowed in prayer.
Hours before the storm made landfall, Mr Trump tweeted, "Here comes Irma. God bless everyone!"
Hurricane Irma takes joint seventh place for the strongest storm to make landfall in US history, according to a key measurement of atmospheric pressure.
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 had lower pressure than Irma but its wind speed kept it at a Category 3 storm.
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