The latest damage reports and were also seeing how this is affecting travel. First of all, there is a Tropical Storm watch for sumter, polk and highlands county. What that means is you can feel Tropical Storm force winds within 48 hours. That is what a watch means when you talk about the tropics. It doesnt mean it will get worse or easier it just means the timeframe. Lets talk about the warnings. Want to headed to southeast of the 5 00 update, hurricane warning has been issued. That means they will feel Hurricane Force winds within 36 hours. It is a more more of a timing issue. Heres the latest forecast, it will strengthen through the bahamas by tomorrow morning is a category 4 hurricane with winds at 130 milesperhour. A gets very close to the West Palm Beach coastline. Will have slowed down from previous forecast. Here it is friday morning, 130 mile per hour winds right along Cape Canaveral that it has a long jacksonville by saturday morning and then up toward the carolinas. What i want to show you is our impacts. We do have the possibility of seeing Tropical Storm force winds. That is the yellow shaded area. Notice it comes in to Highland County and polk county. Heres the interesting thing just came in overnight, they are still in agreement with these coast of florida just a little later friday afternoon. Once the head toward the carolinas many are taking on a loop. We will have to wait and see exactly what happens with this longterm but it 538 we do have the rainfall and winds potential. Matthew was a category 4 hurricane when it made landfall in haiti. You can see all of the 11 people dead this morning. Were in the new center. It is pretty difficult to get a very good assessment of the damage and loss of life right now. Yes, and that is because entire villages are cut off. The full extent of destruction may not be known for a while. Bridges and roads washed away so getting word is nearly impossible. There is an ongoing threat of mudslides. Were seeing some images posted to social media including a video from a mayor. The hospital in his town had its roof loan off. The role southern peninsula was hit hardest. Many people live in shacks. At least 10,000 people are now in shelters. A haitian who now lives in the states was visiting her family when matthew struck. Chaos because unfortunately, haiti were not prepared for this type of catastrophe. We do these do get these quite often but because of the infrastructure, money and all of that we are not able. The us is providing 400,000 in initial relief assistance and a Disaster Response team has already been deployed. Governor rick scott is taking action on hurricane matt state of emergency and plans to activate hundreds of National Guard troops today with thousands more on standby. The governor is urging floridians to Pay Attention and act now. This is a deadly storm approaching our coast. I cannot stress that enough. Dont focus on the storm path. Focus on the fact that with the minor deviation it can have a direct impact on our state. Governor scott will brief us that is scheduled to happen and around 8 45 this morning. We will carry that live right here on news channel 8 and on our website. The governor has called the governors called call of action resonated in southeast florida. Stores were left empty. All i was able to find was this flashlight. Many shoppers stopped up on plywood to board up their windows generators are also a hot item just in case of a power outage. Check out the demand for gas in south florida. Incredible though video here. Drivers are getting in slow moving lines to fill up. What you are looking at is the scene at a gas station in daily florida. A similar scene in south a created this traffic jam in charleston as people tried to get an early start on those evacuation orders. Mary mcguire joins us now live from Tampa International airport where she is monitoring the traffic situation because when a storm of this magnitude is threatening, people consider leaving town. That is exactly right. It has ripple effects across the country. I checked this or canceled. In South Carolina evacuation orders are already in place. After slamming the islands, Hurricane Matthew could make a turn toward the united states. In South Carolina more than 1 million have been ordered to evacuate by 3 00 this afternoon. Millions who could be in the path of the storm making sure they are ready if matthew turns their way. Live in florida. My wife is afraid to go back. So were staying by friends in the tampa area. Reporter several airlines are already waiting their change fees this morning included united, delta, jeb little ahead of Hurricane Matthew. If youre traveling to or from any area that could be impacted by the storm, places in north airlines will waive the change fees. If you do want to travel later in the week and wait out the storm, if your travel plans are flexible, i would advise checking with your airline to see if you can travel earlier or later to avoid any travel headaches. Polk county is keeping a close eye on this storm. The county is included in the stone cone of uncertainty. Difference. In this kind of a storm it could go either way. We need to make sure we dont go overboard and get people over prepared. Many people and pope county remember when hurricane charley hit back in 2004. A damaged dozens of homes and businesses. The city of winter haven is helping as residents get ready. To sandbag locations are open and ready for possible floods. We have posted this information on our website to make it easy for you in case you dont have a 10 in hand pen in hand. Were still tracking category 3 hurricane were winds are 130 milesperhour. This is where it is located right now. Going forward it will have locally. The thing is not just today. We have a rather warm day, 89 degrees. It is a little steamy at times but rainfalls will hold off until after lunchtime. Not everyone is seeing the rain. It is about a 30 percent chance. Now we will show you the potential between this morning and friday night. It shows you a really good trend the further east that you are, closer to the east coast the higher the rate rainfall totals will be. Near the west coast of florida it is about an inch to an inch and a half. That is over several days. Winds speeds a little breezy or tomorrow , 20 to 25 mileper hour winds. The strongest look toward the east coast because that is where the worst weather will be. Locally 30 mileperhour winds. The worst of it will be friday morning. Poking highland counties you are under the Tropical Storm watch because you could see Tropical Storm force winds as we head into friday. For our temperatures 89 today, 88 tomorrow with winds increasing. We have a good commute out there. Causeway. There is no reason to take an alternate but we do have a crash working. Were seeing westbound delays right through the rocky point area. Again, no need to take a different route. You are only looking at a minute or so on your backup. Meanwhile, we have a great drive here. This is what you get past the accident on accordion also skyway bridge, howard in franklin look great. Out making critical measurements to help plot the past Hurricane Matthew. Jeff patterson was with them yesterday. The team made as way over to the bahamas, south over haiti and then over jamaica and then south to cuba. The scientist on board the aircraft no their jobs can dave lives and they take it very seriously. My parents may not be on the east coast not be what other peoples parents and children might be so that is just as important to us. Later today jeff will show us what it is like to fly over a major hurricane at 45,000 feet and why the signs of the mission is so important all of us to know. This morning you will notice more students walking to school. It is International Walk to school day. This is video from previous years. The day is designed to a chance to remind drivers to be extra where when students are out each morning and afternoon. The Vice President ial candidates faceoff in virginia. Still ahead, the fiery confrontations and the latest polls. Marco rubio has the worst attendance record of any florida senator in 50 years. But its even worse when he shows up. Hes voted for a plan that would cut Social Security. And has said Social Security is bankrupting our country and has weakened us as a people. He wants to eliminate the department of education. And has voted for billions in education cuts. Marco rubio. Its bad when he misses work. Its worse when he shows up. Senate majority pac is responsible for the content of this advertising. A je ne sais quoi. A youthful aura. Advanced g . Nifique by lanc . Me. Every serum drop infuses youthful radiance throughout the skin. Patented until 2029. Advanced g . Nifique. Lanc . Me. Receive a free 7piece gift. Strike right now a stinky mess in palm harbor. Crews are working to clean up thousands of gallons of raw sewage. Ryan hughes joins us live in the neighborhood. Ryan, cleanup could take quite a while. Reporter exactly. It has been going on overnight. Scene removing some of the raw sewage. It is gross, it smells and neighbors wanted cleaned up fast. What you think about the smell . It is disgusting. It smells like right mags. It is all in the house. In the house to sell it in there . Yes. Utility crews tell us the mess was caused by a sewer main that ruptured it spewed at a rate of 1000 gallons per minute for 11 hours. Crews managed to isolate the broken section of the main to begin repairs. There is a request to limit water usage in this area until it is fixed. County officials stress the water in the area is safe to drink. Officials are expected to discuss the situation at 10 00 this morning. Students and parents are on out of pasco county and now another. Deputies caught the 12yearold boy who is facing a felony charge. He threatened to kill the sixth graders at 7 springs middle school through an online profile. Asked for jack the clone 15, he writes on facebook, im coming for you martinez middle school. Students and parents are scared to death. It scared me because i thought it was real. It someone threatened to kill everyone. The School District reports they are taking the 2nd case seriously but dont believe anyone will carry out a threat. The 12yearold in pasco will be charged as an adult possibly facing up to 15 years behind bars. Democrat tim kaine and republican mike pence first often the first and only Vice President ial debate of 2015 2016. The accusations and mike pence tried to paint the clinton, tim kaine ticket as career politicians. Tim kaine challenge mike pence over controversial statements. The newly emboldened aggression of russia whether it was in ukraine you both have said Vladimir Putin is a better leader than the president. A cnn poll right after the debate declared mike pence the winner with 48 percent compared to tim kaine at 42 percent. The spotlight returns to the top of the ticket and Hillary Clinton and donald trump take the stage sunday night for their 2nd debate. The next president ial debate, Hillary Clinton versus donald trump brown to happen sunday, october 9 at Washington University st. Louis. Rod carter will be there. We will have live coverage in with leon on what is happening with the Tropical Storm watch. That is right sumter county, Highland County, polk county are under a Tropical Storm watch. That means we expect strong winds within 48 hours. It will be later tomorrow on into friday. We have a hurricane warning along the east coast. It is that warning down around Hurricane Force winds are expected within 36 hours. They will see those stronger winds as the system heads up to the north. Hurricane matthew winds right now at 125 milesperhour but it is expected to strengthen through the bahamas back to a category 4 storm and winds of 130 milesperhour. The system is slower. Is coming up on thursday afternoon. It is still in the bahamas. A gets very close to the west see our strongest trend or with this especially in polk and highlands counties. We do have a big change in what some of the models are saying. Heres a european model, the one we have relied on in the past. It is showing the slower forward motion. Were dealing with heavy rain along the east coast. We are on the driver drier side of this. Change, once we had into saturday and sunday, the storm may make a loop back out into the atlantic. It is something we will watch closely as the next round of models come in later this afternoon. Today we will not see much of an effect of Hurricane Matthew just a 30 percent chance of afternoon storms. Tomorrow were also having a 30 percent chance and that we are drier next week. We have a collision on the need to take the howard franklin. You can still hop on the courtney the westbound a little slow right around how rocky point. What you pass the collision you are writer you are right at traffic speeds. Down here in sarasota, buckingham street and north ridge road we do have a collision. This is off to the shoulder with no injuries involved. It is a hit and run. That is a look at weather the 8s back to you. A touching tribute to a young School Shooting victim. Still ahead how the family of the 6 rolled wants their son remember. The new jersey home explodes. The strange down witnesses reported hearing right before the blast. And Hurricane Matthew devastating results on the caribbean prompted evacuating orders in the united states. Will take a look at how it is affecting travel in florida and closed captioning is brought across america a heartbreaking day in South Carolina were family members and friends will say a final goodbye to the little boy shot and killed at school. A funeral will take place today for the 6 rolled jacob paul. And reviewing dozens showed up many dressed in superhero costumes and tshirts as requested by the family. His family wanted the tribute to focus on what he loved, superheroes. This morning investigators are trying to figure out what caused a house in new jersey to explode. You can see all the damage left behind. The impact of the blast destroyed one home and cause damage to another nearby see debris scattered everywhere. Take a look at Surveillance Video showing the moment the house lot. It happen very fast but we have slowed the stone for you. Everyone inside managed to get out safely before the best blast. Many reported hearing a hissing then smelling gas. Investigators are not trying to figure out if a gas leak was to blame. Florida and the east coast are on high alert this morning. We continue watching her came matthew as it moves toward the bahamas. Were on top of the storm with Team Coverage of Hurricane Matthew is the big story. Right now the Hurricane Force winds extent about 40 miles from the center of the storm. Tropical Storm Force Winds extend 160 miles from the center. The center is off hours. We could see strong force winds and sumter, highland and polk county. We have a few spotty storms and maybe a little bit of a breeze with a high of 89. Will take a look at the bay area bridges. We have great speeds as you move across them. Were not seeing any more delays on the Courtney Campbell causeway. It will take you about 7 minutes to spend across the also have wanted state road 56 right at bruce reed street. No injuries. Apparently was a hit and run. Wife our electric bill just keeps going up and up. Were doing everything we can. But it looks like duke energys not doing theirs. Husband paying for a plant thats never going to be built is just ridiculous. Ngressman david jolly does nothing. Hes taken thousands from duke but has not stopped them from collecting for a power plant that could never be built. Wife someone needs to stand up to duke energy. Narrator House Majority pac is responsible for the content of this advertising. You love allday breakfast. But you dont love that you cant get all your favorites. But now you can get more of what you love. So you can find Something Else to not love. Get more choices you love, now with all day breakfast. Our top story this morning Hurricane Matthew closing in on the florida coast. It is battering parts of the caribbean as it heads north toward the us. Will show you how the bay area is now expected to and we are getting a look at the damage the storm can do this morning. Images from haiti show mass deception in some areas. Destruction in some areas. Of course now the storm shifts to florida. Residents are prepared on the east coast. We will show you what they are doing to prepare but also what we are doing in the bay area. Good morning, welcome to news