[Wolf Blitzer, Cnn Anchor:] Happening now, breaking news. Collision path. After tearing through a series of Caribbean islands, bringing death and destruction, Hurricane Irma is on a collision path for Florida. Millions of people are now at risk from this catastrophic storm. Storm surge. Alongside a hurricane watch, South Florida is under a storm surge watch for the enormous wall of water that could be pushed ashore, bringing deadly flooding as high as a House to coastal areas. Fleeing Florida. Hundreds of thousands have been ordered to flee their homes. Many more aren't waiting to be told to evacuate. Highways heading north are clogged, and fuel shortages could lead to gridlock. And White House interviews. A CNN exclusive: sources say Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team wants to interview White House staffers who were aboard Air Force One when the misleading statement was drafted about Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer. I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in
[The Situation Room. Announcer:] This is CNN breaking news.
[Blitzer:] Breaking news, the new forecast that's just coming in for Hurricane Irma, pounding the Caribbean with winds of 175 miles an hour. The epic storm, one of the most powerful ever, is taking aim at Florida, and hurricane watches have been declared in the southern part of the state. The mayor of Miami Beach calls Irma a nuclear hurricane, and Florida's governor warns it's a catastrophic storm like the state has never seen. Mandatory evacuations are spreading. So far, 650,000 people in the Miami area alone have been ordered to leave, and others are being warned to be ready on short notice. Countless Floridians aren't waiting to be ordered out. Highways are clogged with people heading north, but fuel shortages could further snarl the exodus. Georgia and South Carolina also are ordering coastal evacuations starting Saturday. Spurring the urgent warnings, the trail of destruction and devastation and death already carved out by Irma. The prime minister of Barbuda says 95 percent of the buildings there have been destroyed. The island of St. Martin was devastated, and the storm knocked out power to a million people in Puerto Rico. Still in Irma's path, the Turks and Caicos islands and the Bahamas. I'll speak with Congressman Ted Deutsche of Florida and the director of the National Weather Service. Our correspondents, and specialists and guests, they are all standing by with full coverage of the storm and other stories breaking tonight. Let's begin with the breaking news. A new forecast is just coming in for Hurricane Irma. Our meteorologist, Tom Sater, is at CNN Severe Weather Center. So what's the latest, Tom?
[Tom Sater, Cnn Meteorologist:] Well, just a few minor changes. Again, what we have is a formidable hurricane, Wolf, no doubt. We're losing time now because those that have a evacuate have to do by tomorrow morning if they're going to do this. Now, I will show you a significant change, at least 20, 30 miles when it comes to the track towards Miami, which could be significant for Miami and everyone, Monroe County, Miami-Dade and elsewhere. We are now watching the storm surge start to plow into the Turks and Caicos. That's why they were evacuated, looking at at least 15 to even possibly 20 feet or more in some areas. The warnings extend across the Bahama islands, but this is new today, and this, Wolf, is significant. These watches posted by the National Hurricane are not just slapped up on the U.S. without considerable discussion and analysis of the data. It costs millions and millions of dollars to place a hurricane watch somewhere in the U.S. because of the federal, state, the local need, the equipment, the personnel, and the evacuation process that's taking place and, of course, closing up businesses and so on and so forth. This will become a warning as time rolls on. We will see more watches extended up the East Coast and the West Coast, because again, keep in mind, this storm is so large, once it makes its way to the southern tip of Florida, the entire peninsula will be covered with tropical storm-force winds. I want to point out here the tracks. A couple of them still deviate down to the south over Cuba. Almost ready to kind of erase that, but we cannot knock that possibility out. But again, the spaghetti plots are different than the European and the U.S. models. So we look at all of them. And again we continue to see quite an array and focus along that east coast. The difference in the track from the National Hurricane Center from yesterday to today is quite interesting. But for planning purposes, I just want everybody to look at this color codes. This is when the tropical storm force winds meet your area. You do not want to leave on Saturday, driving through Florida with tropical-storm-force winds. So you want at least want to leave, I'd say at the very latest if you're even considering, Friday morning. But everybody needs to consider this. Here's why. The path now, shifting back westward. Twenty-four hours ago, we saw a 60- to 70-mile shift to the east, and now it looks like it's shifting. Even though it may be just 20 miles, it puts Miami right in the worst possible position. Because when you look at the formidable storm, the strongest winds, the strongest storm surge, the bands of heavy rain are always in that north, northeastern quadrant. So as the system stays, more just toward, I would say, just toward the west of Miami, then they're putting Miami and the millions of people even northward in that range. As we continue to go along, let's take a look at the European model and the U.S. There have been some changes with this, as well. They have all shifted a little bit westward. Yesterday, the U.S. model was a little bit more off the coastline, and it still is. And it still brings it up toward landfall near Savannah. That's still a big possibility. So everyone on alert on, of course, the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia. But for the European, a week ago, last Thursday this model was still south of Miami. And here it is again today. So you've got to take that in consideration, this grasp it has on the environment. If we get in closer, and take a look at each one, it is quite interesting. And this is probably the worst-case scenario, although there's going to be suffering anywhere. So there isn't a great outcome, any way you look at it. But again, with those stronger winds, as this moves in toward Key Largo, this is our problem spot for the strongest winds, the greatest storm surge that could be and I think it's conservative to say ten feet, really. I mean, we could see 15. The Turks and Caicos are getting 20. It depends a lot on that slope of the ocean floor. But again, this is going to be a problem. This is going to be like winds near the center of an EF-3 tornado. And we know what that does when it hits any community in the southern plains or anywhere in the U.S. But consider those kind of winds around that center of the eye, hour after hour after hour all the way from the south to the north, straight up the center of Florida. The other model, of course, we're going to be watching is the U.S. model. But again, as the European moves in, you are not safe in Key West, as well. As the winds wrap around, you're going to see a storm surge on the northern side coming in, as well. But real quickly for you, here's the U.S. model, and this is a little different. Still has a very close landfall near Fort Lauderdale. This is much like Matthew last year that scoured the entire coastline, keeping the catastrophic damage offshore but creating quite a bit of activity and damage, as we know, well into the Carolinas.
[Blitzer:] Yes, clearly, it could be a worst-case scenario for Miami, Miami Beach, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, up towards Boca Raton and Palm Beach. We're watching that area very, very closely. We're going to keep checking back with you. I know, Tom, you're getting more information all the time. Stand by. This path of destruction carved across the Caribbean by the hurricane, Hurricane Irma's, adding great urgency right now to Florida's preparations for one of the most powerful storms ever. Our Brian Todd is joining us from Palm Beach right now, not far from the president's Florida estate at Mar-a-Lago. Brian, officials are sounding some very dire warnings.
[Brian Todd, Cnn Correspondent:] They certainly are, Wolf, because we're standing in a spot now that could take a direct hit when Irma comes ashore in earnest on Sunday. This island behind me, the barrier island Palm Beach, could be inundated. They could see five to ten feet of storm surge, which would inundate this area behind me, including as you mentioned, the president's winter White House, Mar-a-Lago. Mandatory evacuations are going to be ordered in a few hours. This comes as people throughout south Florida are getting a harrowing preview of what they could see. People seeing very disturbing images of what Irma did to the Caribbean.
[Todd:] This is the kind of devastation that has hit the Caribbean and could be headed directly into Florida. Flooded roads and buildings in Antigua, cars and boats ruined in St. Barts. Trees torn apart in St. Thomas, the destruction seen from the air, extending for miles across St. Martin. Barbuda took a direct hit; 95 percent of buildings are estimated damaged or destroyed.
[Gaston Browne, Prime Minister, Antigua And Barbuda:] What I saw was heart-wrenching. I mean, absolutely devastating.
[Unidentified Male:] The roof is about to come. Yes, there it is.
[Todd:] Hurricane Irma has maintained 185-mile-per-hour winds for longer than any hurricane in recorded history. Almost 16 million people are in the potential path of the storm. Puerto Rico suffered high winds and flooding, leaving a million without power and 56,000 without water. The storm churning near Santa Domingo the Turks and Caicos, with the Bahamas and Cuba up next. Tonight, Florida officials urgently warning citizens statewide to get ready.
[Mayor Barbara Sharief , Broward County:] If you choose to remain in your home, please rush your preparations to completion today. Emergency personnel will not be able to assist you once sustained tropical-storm-force winds arrive.
[Todd:] Some interstates seeing heavy traffic as mandatory evacuation orders now cover the Keys, low-lying parts of southern Florida.
[Gov. Rick Scott , Florida:] I cannot stress enough, do not ignore evacuation orders. Remember, we can rebuild your home. You can get your possessions again, but you can't get your life back.
[Todd:] Gas has become scarce in some places. Around 40 percent of gas stations in Miami-Dade County are out of gas, according to Gas Buddy. Some fuel trucks now getting police escorts. And to get sandbags, the line was two hours long at a location near Orlando. Flights and cruises are being cancelled and at least one Miami hospital has started evacuating patients. Authorities say the most exposed nuclear plant, at Turkey Point, sits 20 feet above sea level and weathered a direct Category 5 hit from Hurricane Andrew in 1992. But no one wants another disaster like the Fukushima meltdown, where a tsunami knocked out the cooling system while the reactors were still hot.
[Robert Gould, Florida Power And Light:] We will safely shut down these nuclear plants with the well in advance of hurricane-force winds.
[Todd:] Even the winter White House, Donald Trump's treasured Mar-a- Lago estate at Palm Beach, whose stucco walls have weathered countless storms since it was built in 1927, could be in the path of the unpredictable storm.
[Scott:] Look at the cone. The cone has our entire state. And this thing's bigger than our entire state right now. So take this seriously.
[Todd:] And starting at 10 a.m. Eastern Time tomorrow, mandatory evacuation orders will be in place for this area, especially the area behind me, the barrier islands of Palm Beach, those low-lying areas. That's going to cover about 123,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders. But another 138,000 are going to be under a voluntary evacuation notice, Wolf. And again, people here, just like they are throughout the state, are being told by officials, do not call first responders during the height of the storm on Saturday and especially on Sunday, because they are not going to be able to get to you in those conditions.
[Blitzer:] So all of Palm Beach is going to be evacuated as of tomorrow morning? Mandatory evacuation, is that what I'm hearing?
[Todd:] Well, Wolf, you have to specify between Palm Beach right behind me, this barrier island, the lower lying areas. That's going to be under mandatory evacuations starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow. West Palm Beach, some of that is going to be under mandatory, but most of that's going to be under voluntary evacuation orders tomorrow. West Palm Beach is a little bit higher elevation. So they are, you know, not insulated, but they're a little safer than the people right behind me on that barrier island.
[Blitzer:] Yes, Palm Beach as opposed to West Palm Beach. All right, Brian. Thank you very much. We'll get back to you. Stand by. Right now the core of this extremely dangerous storm is passing near Haiti. CNN's Paula Newton is on the scene for us over there. So Paula, what are the conditions like right now getting ready for this hurricane?
[Paula Newton, Cnn Correspondent:] We've had a few hours now of some fairly severe gusts with some rainstorms, but the worst is yet to come still for Haiti. The good news, Wolf, is they're not taking a direct hit. Bad news is that even the southern edge of this storm could do catastrophic damage to Haiti. This is one of the places that's most ill-prepared for this. Wolf, we had local officials here on the northern shore tell us, "Look, we are not prepared for the storm, and not only are we not prepared for the storm, we're not prepared for the aftermath." Critical supplies that were supposed to come from the capital, Port au Prince, are still not in place. People are not heeding evacuation orders. At risk Wolf, about 100,000 people in low-lying areas, and that's for the storm over the next 10 to 12 hours. After that, Wolf, we're still waiting to see what the flooding does and if it triggers those mudslides, those deadly mudslides that we saw from Hurricane Matthew in the south of this country last year that killed hundreds of people, literally swept families away with their homes. It has become a real problem here, Wolf. And still no understanding it's been unsettling that there is any preparation here. And quite frankly, Wolf, right now it's too late. People already have to hunker down as best they can and just wait it out.
[Blitzer:] Well, let's hope for the best in Haiti, which has gone through so much over these many years. Thanks very much, Paula, for that. We'll get back to you, as well. Joining us now, the director of the National Weather Service, Louis Uccellini. Louis, thanks very much for coming in.
[Louis Uccellini, Director, National Weather Service:] Thank you for having me.
[Blitzer:] So you you've been involved in a lot of these hurricanes. A Category 4 or a Category 5 storm hitting Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, that area with millions and millions of people, what would it mean?
[Uccellini:] Well, we have to understand, too, it's only hitting that area; it's coming in on an angle to the coastline, which makes it particularly dangerous for the storm surge on the eastern side of the low. The very strong winds. We're still predicting that the storm will maintain its intensity to at least a Category 4. Very strong winds. You can't evacuate up in winds like that. So very concerned about the response to this storm. The emergency management community is taking all actions to local officials, to state officials to get people out of harm's way. But it's a very dangerous storm both from a wind perspective and from a water perspective.
[Blitzer:] Louis Uccellini's going to be with us throughout the two hours here. Stand by. I want to bring in Democratic Congressman Ted Deutsche of Florida. His district includes parts of southeast Florida that could be hit hard by Hurricane Irma. Congressman, thanks for joining us. How should people in your district and we're talking about, what, Boca Raton and other areas just north of Fort Lauderdale, between Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, how should they be preparing for this disaster?
[Rep. Ted Deutsche , Florida:] Well, Wolf, they should be doing several things. First and foremost, they should listen to what the local officials tell them. There is a mandatory evacuation in Broward County for the low-lying areas, mobile homes, the coastal areas, Palm Beach County. That's going to go into effect tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. They need to plan to evacuate. For people who aren't evacuating, right now, they have to have a plan in place both to secure their homes. They have to have everything they need to get through a hurricane, and they need to make sure that they're prepared the day after a hurricane. Write down all of the information that they need, because there's a very good chance they're going to lose power. Be sure that they have the numbers that they need, and communicate that to their families outside of Florida, as well, so that everyone is aware of what they'll be going through and the steps that they'll be taking to deal with the storm.
[Blitzer:] We're already seeing, Congressman, very, very heavy traffic on the interstates in Florida. So many people are concerned they won't be able to get out in time if they're not out by now. They maybe have a few hours left. Do you trust the evacuation procedures that have been put in place in your state of Florida?
[Deutsche:] Well, I think there are two important pieces to this, one the decision to evacuate the areas along the coastline is very important, because as you've been discussing with the experts before I came on, the storm surge could be immense, which puts all of those areas and the people who live there at great risk. So those people need to evacuate from their homes along the coast. There are people who are leaving the state, but the other piece of this is the shelters that are now open in South Florida, the people who need those shelters who can evacuate from their homes to the shelters for protection, that's another way for them to stay safe.
[Blitzer:] The people of Florida, certainly, are counting on FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to help with the recovery process, but the agency as you well know, Congressman, is on the brink of running out of cash. Is Congress going to make sure FEMA is funded to deal with not only the crisis, the hurricane disaster we saw in Texas and Louisiana, but now about to unfold in Florida and maybe in South Carolina and Georgia, some other states up the eastern seaboard?
[Deutsche:] Wolf, there's there's no question that Congress must. This isn't a question of whether or not Congress will. Congress must ensure that FEMA has the resources to be able to continue to help the people of Texas who are, whose lives were devastated by the storm there last week. But this is a large, dangerous storm with high winds and high storm and high surge that's coming up, potentially, right through Florida. Six million people at risk in South Florida alone, 20 million people throughout the state. I know that FEMA has food and water and generators ready to come into the state, blue tarps ready to help people who lose their roofs, but they need to be funded. And Congress needs to do that right now. We can't leave the people of Florida to wonder whether or not FEMA's going to be there for them. They have to be there for them.
[Blitzer:] The House speaker, Paul Ryan, says FEMA funds are being quickly depleted, a lot more quickly than normal because everyone seems to be affected by Hurricane Harvey. Everyone who was affected by Hurricane Harvey out in Texas and Louisiana is applying for relief over their smart phones, and do you accept that explanation?
[Deutsche:] Well, I think that people are seeking relief because of the damage that Harvey caused. We've all seen the horrific images of the floods and people whose lives were turned upside-down, so of course they're seeking they're turning to FEMA. In Florida, we know that if that storm like this comes through the state, that there will be massive damage to people's homes, that the flooding will be dramatic, and that the needs will be enormous. So we're going to have to come together. Wolf, I was at the emergency operations center earlier today with Governor Scott, and the federal government, the state government, local governments, the nonprofit community, all of them were together figuring out how to address the needs that will exist after the storm comes through, not just to prepare for it, but anticipating what will come next. FEMA plays a vital role in that, and Congress has to ensure that FEMA is equipped to help take care of those needs.
[Blitzer:] In the worst-case scenario and everybody's fearing now that worst-case scenario, according to to the National Hurricane Center parts of south Florida where you are could be uninhabitable for weeks or months. Are you worried that some of your constituents may may never be able to rebuild their lives?
[Deutsche:] Well, Wolf, we people have seen images from Hurricane Andrew. I remember what we went through after Hurricane Wilma in my own community. There there is going to be, if this storm follows the current track, there's going to be massive damage. But that's when the community has to come together, as we have in those other instances, to help ensure that people can get back on their feet. This could be this could be a horrific outcome like we've seen in the islands, but we have to hope that that's not the case. But if it is, then again, we're going to have to all work together to ensure that people get the care that they need. There's going to be a lot of looking out for one another and a lot of turning to those who can offer support. That's why there has been such a welcomed push to get volunteers. People have signed up already, because whatever happens, they know that we're all going to be there for one another. That's the kind of community that we have. We know what these storms can do. We've seen it before. And Florida, if this is if this follows this current path, it will be a very, very difficult time, but we will work with each other, turn to each other, and we'll get through it, Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Congressman Ted Deutsche of Florida, joining us from Pompano Beach, along the Atlantic. Very quickly, where are you going ride out the storm?
[Deutsche:] I'm going to be I'm going to be home with with my family, and we're just finishing securing our own home. Something that I was out with my neighbors doing just before I came over here. And then we'll be out in the community and doing our best to assess what happened and again, to help make sure that people get the support that they need.
[Blitzer:] Well, be careful and good luck to you. Good luck to everyone in Florida right now.
[Deutsche:] Thank you.
[Blitzer:] I know this is an awful, awful situation. Congressman, thanks for joining us. We'll have much more on the breaking news coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Urgent preparations as Hurricane Irma takes direct aim at Florida. We're tracking the storm's path, the latest forecast, much more right after this.