Florida is bracing itself for what is set to be the first hurricane to hit the state in more than a decade. <br /><br /> Tropical Storm Hermine has picked up strength, blasting its way toward the state’s northern Gulf Coast, and is now classified as a hurricane.<br /><br /> Winds are expected to be around 120 kilometres per hour by the time it makes landfall.<br /><br /> The message to people in Florida is be prepared.<br /><br /> “Just remember this, we cannot rescue you in the middle of a storm. You’re responsible as we go through this storm. We will do everything we can to help you prepare, but you are responsible,” warned Florida Governor Rick Scott.<br /><br /> “Once we can send first responders safely to help you, we will, but hopefully, if everyone’s prepared, that will not happen.”<br /><br /> Wehave multiple hurricanes in the Atlantic for the first time sinceSeptember10, 2012. #Hermine #Gaston pic.twitter.com/XIdpLbpyIK— Philip Klotzbach(@philklotzbach) 1 September2016 <br /><br /> Residents are battening down the hatches.<br /><br /> A state of emergency has already been declared in 51 of Florida’s 67 counties and some people are being evacuated.:<br /><br /> “We’re really metaling up the windows from the hurricane here at Cedar Key that’s supposed to hit us here soon,” said Tony Frazier, one of those protecting buildings.<br /><br /> “This does the trick for what we have to do on the properties here. There’s no way to make anything safe. It’s mother nature.” <br /><br /> After battering coastal Florida, Hermine is expected to barrel across the northern part of the state into Georgia, then slam southern US coastal regions on the Atlantic. <br /><br /> Tropical storm warnings have been issued through parts of North Carolina.<br /><br /> BREAKING: #Tropical storm warnings issued for parts of NE FL, SC coasts. Watches extend to Surf City, NC. #Hermine pic.twitter.com/OLbUb0dzqW— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) 1 September 2016<br />
