Florida declares state of emergency over storm Erika

Florida has declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Erika, which has already wreaked havoc across the Caribbean, moves towards the US state.

The storm is expected to hit southern Florida on Monday after battering the Dominican Republic and Haiti with “life-threatening floods” over the weekend, the US National Hurricane Centre said on Friday.

Governor Rick Scott made his declaration that Erika “poses a severe threat to the entire state” shortly after forecasters adjusted the trajectory of the storm to show that it is predicted to go through the middle of the state.

The order calls for the activation of the US National Guard and gives authorities the ability to waive tolls and rules to allow emergency crews and vehicles to move throughout the state.

A hurricane has not hit Florida in 10 years. The latest forecasts show that Erika will remain a tropical storm when it makes landfall.