Hurricane: State of Emergency Declared in Florida

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Monday declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Matthew as the dangerous storm barrels through the Caribbean.

"Hurricane Matthew is a life-threatening Category 4 hurricane and we must all take it seriously," the governor said in a statement.

"If Hurricane Matthew directly impacts Florida, there could be massive destruction which we haven't seen since Hurricane Andrew devastated Miami-Dade County in 1992. That is why we cannot delay and must prepare for direct impact now."

No evacuation orders were issued yet, however.

"We are preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best and we will not take any chances to ensure our state is prepared, Scott said, adding: "If an evacuation order is activated in your area, leave immediately. Once severe weather comes, our first responders will not be able to rescue you until the weather subsides."

The National Hurricane Center reports Hurricane Matthew currently has maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, NBC affiliate WESH reported.

The State Emergency Operations Center calculates the slow-moving hurricane could impact Florida's east coast with tropical storm force winds, beach erosion, rip currents and heavy rain from as early as Wednesday through Saturday, WESH reported.

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