Powerful Hurricane Dorian prompts Florida state of emergency as storm roars through U.S. Virgin Islands

Hurricane Dorian was expected to become a "dangerous" storm as it trudges toward Florida afer sweeping through the U.S. Virgin Islands on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. update.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday evening declared a State of Emergency for the eastern and central portions of the state.

"Today, I am declaring a state of emergency to ensure Florida is fully prepared for Hurricane Dorian," DeSantis said. "It's important for Floridians on the East Coast to monitor this storm closely. Every Florida resident should have seven days of supplies, including food, water and medicine, and should have a plan in case of disaster. I will continue to monitor Hurricane Dorian closely with emergency management officials. The state stands ready to support all counties along the coast as they prepare."

As of 5 p.m,. Dorian was a Category 1 storm with 80 mph winds and was located 45 miles northwest of St. Thomas moving northwest at 14 mph. The storm is expected to grow in size and could hit Category 3 status before reaching Florida's east coast by late Sunday or early Monday. By Monday afternoon it could still be a hurricane as it moves over Central Florida.

The cone of uncertainty shows it could also be anywhere from coastal Georgia to the southern tip of Florida or west of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico by that time.

"The latest advisory from NHC is of concern for Central Florida," Fox 35 meteorologist Jayme King said of Wednesday's 11 a.m. update. "The forecast track on Dorian by this weekend brings some startling developments. ... All residents from the coast into the interior need to prepare should the latest forecast pan out."

The storm hit the Virgin Islands on Wednesday. A weather station south of St. Thomas recorded a gust of more than 110 mph, the NHC said.

Parts of Florida could expect 4 to 8 inches of rain, and up to 10 inches in isolated areas later this week and into early next week.

"Given the favorable environment of warm waters and low shear prevailing in the western Atlantic, the NHC forecast calls for a marked intensification, and brings Dorian to category 3 intensity in 72 hours, and keeps it at that intensity until landfall," the NHC said.

Orlando International Airport on Wednesday said eight flights to and from Puerto Rico have been canceled so far.

The Orlando Utilities Commission invited customers in Orange and Osceola counties to sign up for outage alerts, which include estimated restoration times, at my.OUC.com or by texting REG to 69682 (myOUC).

Altamonte Springs is providing sand and bags for city residents starting Thursday at Eastmonte Park and Westmonte Recreation Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents must bring their own shovel and each household is limited to 15 bags.

"Prep is key and should be completed ASAP, Saturday at the latest," Fox's King said.

A hurricane watch and tropical storm warning are also in effect for Puerto Rico. A tropical storm watch is in effect for the Dominican Republic from Isla Saona to Samana.

"The risk of dangerous storm surge and hurricane-force winds later this week and this weekend continues to increase in the central and northwestern Bahamas and along the Florida east coast, although it is too soon to determine where these hazards will occur," the NHC said in its 5 p.m. update. "Residents in these areas should ensure that they have their hurricane plan in place and not focus on the exact forecast track of Dorian's center."

In Puerto Rico, the change in the storm's course concerned many across the U.S. territory, where some 30,000 homes still have blue tarps as roofs nearly two years after Hurricane Maria. The island's 3.2 million inhabitants still depend on a shaky power grid that has remained prone to outages since it was destroyed by the Category 4 storm.

On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted: "We are tracking closely tropical storm Dorian as it heads, as usual, to Puerto Rico. FEMA and all others are ready, and will do a great job. When they do, let them know it, and give them a big Thank You - Not like last time. That includes from the incompetent Mayor of San Juan!"

Although top government officials in Puerto Rico said they were prepared for the storm and had sufficient equipment, a couple of mayors, including those in the western region, said they did not have enough generators or shelters that were properly set up.

Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vu00e1zquez urged those living in flood-prone areas or under a blue tarp to move into one of the island's 360 shelters on Tuesday night. Housing Secretary Fernando Gil has said some 9,000 to 13,000 homes with blue tarp roofs are located in the region that Dorian is expected to affect the most.

Officials also said public schools and government offices would remain closed through at least Thursday.

Meanwhile, as of the 11 a.m. Wednesday update, Tropical Storm Erin weakened to a tropical depression after picking up a bit of speed overnight. Erin continued to move north-northwest at 6 mph, with maximum sustained winds slowing to 40 mph.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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