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MEGASTORM MAYHEM

Deadly 80mph Hurricane Hermine claims first victim as falling tree crushes homeless man while storm’s trail of destruction through Florida sees Brits caught up in holiday chaos

Storm picked up speed as it approached the Gulf coast of Florida with other states in its path

A MEGASTORM slammed into the coast of Florida today bringing 80mph winds, lashing rain and the threat of a deadly storm surge that could cause devastating 12ft floods.

Thousands of national guard troops are on standby and thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes as Hurricane Hermine approached overnight.

One person has died and around 270,000 homes have been left without power while British tourists are also feared to be caught up in the chaos.

A huge pine tree fell into a home in Tallahassee Florida as high speed winds passed through the state
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A huge pine tree fell into a home in Tallahassee Florida as high speed winds passed through the stateCredit: Reuters
Boats lie scattered across the road as the the hurricane passed through Steinhatchee, Florida
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Boats lie scattered across the road as the the hurricane passed through Steinhatchee, FloridaCredit: AP:Associated Press
Another boat was launched into a garden near Shell Point Beach, Florida as Hermine made landfall today
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Another boat was launched into a garden near Shell Point Beach, Florida as Hermine made landfall todayCredit: Getty Images
Floridians prepared to batten down the hatches as Storm Hermine was upgraded to a hurricane as it approached the state
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Floridians prepared to batten down the hatches as Storm Hermine was upgraded to a hurricane as it approached the stateCredit: AP:Associated Press
Governor Rick Scott warned the storm could bring dangerous and potentially lethal storm surges
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Governor Rick Scott warned the storm could bring dangerous and potentially lethal storm surgesCredit: AP:Associated Press
The eye of the storm has made its way to the western Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida
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The eye of the storm has made its way to the western Gulf of Mexico coast of FloridaCredit: Getty Images

It was upgraded from a tropical storm as it picked up strength yesterday over the Gulf of Mexico and the governor warned the state to prepare for a "life-threatening" event.

The US National Hurricane Center confirmed Hermine made landfall at 1.30am local time - 6.30am in the UK - near the state capital Tallahassee in the North West of Florida.

It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm as it hit the panhandled state.

Some 270,000 homes have been left without power overnight as 80mph winds batter hundreds of miles of the west coast from Tampa to Pensacola.

One homeless man in Marion County, was killed when he was hit by a falling tree, Governor Rick Scott said.

A driver changes his mind after trying to tackle high floodwaters in Steinhatchee
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A driver changes his mind after trying to tackle high floodwaters in SteinhatcheeCredit: AP:Associated Press
Eric Blake works at the National Hurricane Center to track the path of Hermine
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Eric Blake works at the National Hurricane Center to track the path of HermineCredit: Getty Images
Residents of the Sandpiper Resort survey the rising water coming from the Gulf of Mexico
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Residents of the Sandpiper Resort survey the rising water coming from the Gulf of MexicoCredit: Getty Images
A young man and his dog wades in the storm surge from Hurricane Hermaine in Florida
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A young man and his dog wades in the storm surge from Hurricane Hermaine in FloridaCredit: Getty Images
Ariel Callahan, 5, left, and her grandmother Kelly Smith, navigate rain water
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Ariel Callahan, 5, left, and her grandmother Kelly Smith, navigate rain waterCredit: AP:Associated Press

Already five inches of rain has fallen in some areas and forecasters said that could reach 18 inches.

Officials warned the storm could bring dangerous storm surges like those seen in New Orleans during the devastating Hurricane Katrina.

It could leave coastal areas under 12ft of water, forecasters said.

Governor Scott declared a state of emergency ahead of the first hurricane to hit Florida since 2005.

He said: "This is life threatening. We have not had a hurricane in years.

“We will come get you but we cannot do anything during the storm. That’s why you need to take action.”

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Ground water begins to flood some low areas as Tropical Storm Hermine heads inland
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Ground water begins to flood some low areas as Tropical Storm Hermine heads inlandCredit: AP:Associated Press
Defiance from locals as Hurricane Hermine nears
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Defiance from locals as Hurricane Hermine nearsCredit: AP:Associated Press
A news reporter doing a stand up near a sea wall in Cedar Key, Florida
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A news reporter doing a stand up near a sea wall in Cedar Key, FloridaCredit: AP:Associated Press
Lisa Bolton, from England, holds her three-year-old daughter during a visit to Clearwater Beach, Florida
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Lisa Bolton, from England, holds her three-year-old daughter during a visit to Clearwater Beach, FloridaCredit: AP:Associated Press

Hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said: "We expect Hermine make landfall north of Tampa, in the Big Bend of Florida during late Thursday night into early Friday morning."

The cities of Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa and Daytona Beach were among those warned they face the added threat of tornadoes.

More than 8,000 national guard officers are being deployed to help with the battle against the storm - which is set to hit its western Gulf of Mexico coast.

Five counties have already been evacuated across the state.

Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in much of the state ahead of its expected landfall at midnight local time
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Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in much of the state ahead of its expected landfall at midnight local timeCredit: AP:Associated Press
Experts fear the storm could bring storm surges like those seen during the devastating Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans in 2005
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Experts fear the storm could bring storm surges like those seen during the devastating Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans in 2005Credit: AP:Associated Press
Locals were the first to see bad weather hit the state as the hurricane approached
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Locals were the first to see bad weather hit the state as the hurricane approachedCredit: AP:Associated Press
Many have taken to sandbagging their properties to stave off the worst of the expected flooding
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Many have taken to sandbagging their properties to stave off the worst of the expected floodingCredit: AP:Associated Press

It is expected to move through Florida before hitting North and South Carolina and Georgia.

An estimated 1.5million Brits visit the state every year.

Among its most popular attractions are the Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks.

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