President Barack Obama on Friday morning warned that Hurricane Matthew is “still a really dangerous hurricane.”
Meeting in the Oval Office on Friday with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Obama said he was concerned about storm surge and that as the hurricane moves north, areas such as Jacksonville, Florida, and Georgia might be less prepared.
Obama told those living in affected areas that, “If they tell you to evacuate, you need to get out of there and move to higher ground.”
He noted that “because storm surge can move very quickly ... people can think that they’re out of the woods and then suddenly get hit, and not be in a position in which they and their families are safe.”
The president pleaded with people to listen to the warnings of state emergency personnel “because we can always replace property, but we cannot replace lives.”
Before the storm hit the U.S., he called for federal emergency declarations in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, while ordering federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts.
FEMA, according to the White House, is allowed to identify, mobilize, and provide equipment and resources at its discretion, Obama said.
“We strongly encourage people who live in the areas that are likely to be affected to heed the warnings and instructions of local officials including evacuation orders,” said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Thursday. “We want people to be prepared.”
