Millions Flee as Hurricane Matthew Reaches Florida
- Death toll expected to rise in Haiti after 283 reported killed
- Storm could be among the top 10 costliest in U.S. history
How Much Will Hurricane Matthew Cost the U.S. Economy?
Millions of people in the U.S. southeast were ordered to flee as Hurricane Matthew, set to become the strongest storm to hit the country since 2005, headed toward Florida’s East Coast after leaving hundreds dead in Haiti.
The storm was downgraded Friday to Category 3, with winds of 120 miles (195 kilometers) an hour. It is expected to move near or over the east coast of the Florida peninsula through Friday evening and then track along the Atlantic coast, racking up as much as $50 billion in economic losses. At least 2 million people have been ordered to flee its path, with evacuations under way in Georgia and South Carolina. In one part of Haiti’s southwest region, 283 people have died and authorities expect the nationwide death toll to rise, The Associated Press reported.