Trump Cabinet prepares for Hurricane Irma landfall

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President Trump’s Cabinet met at Camp David on Saturday to discuss federal preparations for Hurricane Irma as the category 3 storm bears down on Florida.

Irma has already killed at least 20 people in the Caribbean, according to reports, and is headed towards western Florida. In his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting, Trump expressed condolences for the victims of Irma and Harvey, which struck Texas and Louisiana earlier this month.

“All of America continues, I must say, to pray for the families affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, which looks like it’s going to be a really bad one, but we’re prepared,” Trump said. “We’re as prepared as you can be for such an event, that I can say.”

“All of America grieves for those who have already lost their lives,” Trump added.

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The president called on Floridians and others in the storm’s path to listen to instructions from local governments and comply with mandatory evacuation efforts.

“This is a storm of enormous destructive power,” Trump said, “and I ask everyone in the storm path to heed local instructions, get out of its way.”

States of emergency have been declared for Florida, Georgia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico in preparation for Irma’s expected landfall Saturday. The storm is currently at category 3 strength, but weather experts have warned that it could strengthen before making landfall on the mainland.

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