fort lauderdale fla. emergency management officials across south florida hasten disaster preparations tuesday anticipation hurricane irma expect weekend arrival u.s. mainland possibly great force hurricane harvey unleash texas irma category storm high hurricane rank use u.s. forecasters near caribbean northern leeward islands east puerto rico late tuesday maximum sustain wind 185 miles per hour 300 km/h u.s. national hurricane center nhc miami forecast storm would make landfall florida saturday although irma precise trajectory remain see forecasters describe storm potentially catastrophic irma rank one five powerful atlantic hurricanes past 80 years strong atlantic storm ever record outside caribbean sea gulf mexico nhc say mindful devastation work harvey days ago along gulf coast texas louisiana florida officials take chance normally people like prepare say gary palmer 60-year-old deputy sheriff visit home supply store fort lauderdale happen texas open everybody eye authorities florida key popular resort archipelago stretch southern tip state mainland peninsula call mandatory evacuation islands visitors start sunrise wednesday roman gastesi administrator monroe county include key say mandatory evacuation residents likely point residents low-lying areas densely populate miami-dade county north urge move high grind wednesday precaution coastal storm surge public school throughout south florida close ahead storm start monroe neighbor lee county wednesday miami-dade several others district begin thursday wife leave key today monroe county emergency management director martin senterfitt say statement would rather go dentist sit traffic sooner people leave good ever storm take serious key u.s. president donald trump act request governor rick scott approve emergency declaration tuesday mobilize federal disaster relief efforts florida ahead irma arrival white house say scott also direct 7,000 state national guard troop report duty friday morning say additional guard members would activate need beforehand fort lauderdale native alexandra nimmons 25 say take irma possible impact south florida seriously see extreme damage harvey leave behind texas spend today collect water nimmons say hoard mason salsa jar finally pay also plan stock candle match can food annisa ali 45 move oakland park florida new york city say hard time find water local store last night go wal-mart water go target water water ali say grocery store wilton manors florida jam foote 56-year-old handyman fort lauderdale say unable find plywood nail windows local home supply store tuesday say wood expect deliver wednesday back tomorrow place open clock foote say wait line concert ticket way important florida prepare powerful hurricane irma