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More than 180,000 Cubans were evacuated from the island country ahead of Elsa’s landfall mid-afternoon on Monday. Projections from the National Weather Service warn Florida residents heavy rains could see flooding when the storm enters the Gulf of Mexico.
The agency said the torrential downpour will likely bring “significant flooding and mudslides” across Cuba throughout Monday.
They added the “tropical storm conditions and a dangerous storm surge” will continue through central and western parts of the country.
By evening, Elsa had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph).
Its core was about 30 miles (30 kilometers) east of Havana and moving to the northwest at 13 mph (20 kph).
READ MORE: Hurricane Elsa MAPPED: Timing and tracking for mega-storm
Barbados was among the worst affected regions in the Carribean, seeing more than 1,100 damaged homes.
At least three people have been killed, including one person in St. Lucia as well as a 15-year-old boy and a 75-year-old woman in the Dominican Republic .
Lazaro Ramon Sosa, a craftsman and photographer who lives in the Zapata Swamp, told The Associated Press by telephone: “The wind is blowing hard and there is a lot of rain.
“Some water is getting under the door of my house. In the yard the level is high, but it did not get into the house.”
Florida had its tropical storm warnings expanded ahead of Elsa’s expected landfall midweek.
However, the storm will likely weaken to a tropical depression when it hits the US and is out of “the cone of uncertainty”.
The National Weather Service said Miami is likely to experience peak winds of 25mph midday Tuesday.
President Joe Biden declared an emergency in Florida and directed federal assistance to supplement the state, tribal and local response.
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On Saturday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also issued a state of emergency for 15 counties, including Miami-Dade.
Emergency crews also demolished a partially collapsed condo building in Surfside ahead of the storm’s approach, despite around 100 people still reported missing after its fall.
Governor DeSantis said in a statement: ”While we continue to provide resources to support the response at Surfside, impacts from Elsa will begin affecting the Florida Keys and portions of southern Florida as early as Monday.
“All Floridians in the potential path of this storm need to prepare for the risk of isolated tornadoes, storm surge, heavy rainfall and flash flooding.”
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