Hurricane force winds, a much broader area so that is bad news. You can see the center of the storm right now north of cuba and whats happening, its moving into warmer waters. Waters south of miami is about 90 degrees so that likely will intensify the storm. This is the latest track, we just got this in and this brings it into the central keys of florida near marathon as a cat five hurricane early in the morning on sunday, 160mile maximum sustained winds, that is the strongest category hurricane. It pushes inland near naples marco island and continuing to push it up the spine, west of the spine of the panhandle as a category one hurricane, cal storm near jacksonville and then pushing near atlanta, that will bring some flooding rains, also some storm surge. So, we do have now hurricane warnings across all of south florida from West Palm Beach to naples area to the south. The watches from melbourne to tampa. Part of the problem its a storm surge, its inland flood, iind. This is going to be a widespread high wind event. Were looking at wind gust near key largo sunday morning 122 Miles Per Hour. Ill have more details on this storm coming up in the full accuweather forecast. Back to you. Thank you, cecily. Obviously there is a dire warning tonight from the chief of fema who says Hurricane Irma is going to devastate the united states. More than 8 Million Properties in florida are now said to be at significant risk for potential wind damage. Right now the focus is on getting the people out. Elected officials are making sure that message is heard loud and clear. Nobody in florida that i know has ever experienced a category four or five storm making landfall. The nation has only seen three category five storms since 1851. 1. 3 Million People have been ordered to evacuate florida but they are having a hard time leaving. In miami alone, nearly 40 percent of gas stations are out of fuel. And when it comes to air travel, airlines are adding seats but many flights are still completely sold out. All right, action news anchor brian taff traveled to florida this afternoon. He joins us livow from okeechobee florida with more on the situation on the ground. Brian. Reporter hi, guys. Its been an extraordinary day, an extraordinarily eerie day. Typically travel related delays come with a lot of frustrations. Not the case today. These frustrations are completely understood as everyone is simply trying to get someplace safe. Ours began this morning quite frankly before we even left philadelphia. Our flight delayed because of a crush of last minute air traffic trying to get into florida to get people safely out of florida. Obviously its not just air traffic thats an issue here today. Take a look at some video, some incredible video showing the scene on the florida turnpike here today. You can see the northbound lanes absolutely jammed. The southbound side, though, you could put a bowling ball down those lanes. There was no one on those lanes save for us, save for First Responders and police trying to get safely where theyre going. Obviously all those cars that are heading north need gas. And to that end we Just Launched drone6, a few minutes ago here where we are. Were at a rest stop in okeechobee florida, just about 115 miles north of the miami area. Take a look at what we saw from this birds eye perspective, a line of cars which goes back out to the highway, Police Officers trying to maintain an orderly process of getting gasoline and fuel to these cars which are then trying get out as quickly as they can. Lets come on back out live here and im going to introduce you to lieutenant lester colter from the florida highway patrol. Lieutenant thank you so much for joining us. Yes, sir. Obviously your message has gotten out there. People are heeding your warning. You must be pleased. Were pleased. Were glad people are leaving going to a safe location. Our job is to get them there safe. People tend to be in good spirits. What are you encountering here. Well, yes, they have been in very good spirits. Weve had a few here and there but for the most part everybodys been cooperative. Were just trying to keep an orderly fashion so that we can keep the traffic from backing out onto the main line so we can keep that open so right now as you can see, its pretty successful. There have been times where its come close, though. Finally lieutenant what do you expect the next 24, 48 hours to bring for you and your team. Well, were going to be doing a a lot of directly traffic, were going to be making sure that people arent broke down on the highway. Were going to be assessing the highway and making sure we can help people anyway that we can. Well be out all the way through the storm and ride it out as best we can. Okay. Our thanks to you and your team, sir. Thank you for the good work. Keep it up throughout the weekend. Florida very much counting on people like lieutenant colter and his team. Some of them frustrated as they try to get out. Its difficult to get north in this state today. Of course we are heading south as we continue to tell the story of this storm, a story very much yet to unfold. We are live in okeechobee, brian taff, channel6 action news. Guys. All right, brian, thank you again. And as brian mentioned folks are trying to get out any way they can tonight. This is a live look from the flight tracking web site flight radar 24 showing all of the flights headed out of the area. And as you can see, many of those planes are headed away from the miami area and up the coast. Many airlines have added planes to try to get as many people out as quickly as possible. And many of those evacuees coming to philadelphia. Action News Reporter gray hall joins us live tonight from Philadelphia International airport with that part of our coverage. Gray. Reporter well, rick, as you know many people in florida scrambling to get out of that state right now many evacuees heading here to our area. Many folks we talked to say the scene in florida right now is chaotic. It was the hurricane, we cant stay there so its too dangerous. Everybody keeps thinking well be okay, well be okay. Many friends and Family Members decided to stay but, you know, to me i dont even i dont even want to see the rain, i dont want to hear the tornado warnings, i just dont want to know. Reporter for those who cut their vacation short to those evacuating florida Hurricane Irma is a furious and dangerous threat. All public schools, universities and state offices in florida are closed today as the state braces for a direct hit from Hurricane Irma. Evacuees are happy that they are out safe but worried about those left behind and what they will return to. Im just scared about the size of it because its going to go up the middle now so its going to take out a lot more. We were hoping it was going to go east but i dont think so. Reporter many in florida have been kicked out of their hotels and are showing up to the airports hoping for a flight anywhere out of harms way. Airlines have added over 10,000 seats since wednesday out of the miami and Fort Lauderdale areas. Thousands are trying to leave before airport operations shut down and they are stranded. Those who made it safely and here to our area are counting their blessings. It depends where were hit. In the keys im not too often, i hate to say that but well see what happens. We go back next week and see what happens. Reporter donna olsen greeted her family from florida with tears and hugs. We dont know how long theyre going to be staying cause we dont know what they can go home to. But at least theyre here and like the governor said, you know, he said we can replace your homes, we can replace your cars. You can never replace your family. Reporter all right. So, back out live we can tell you that several airports have already announced they will be suspending service as the storm gets closer to florida. We can tell you that the last flights here at the Philadelphia International airport from Fort Lauderdale gets here at about 10 30 tonight. Thats the latest from Fort Lauderdale from Philadelphia International airport, gray hall, channel6 action news. Monica. Gray, and of course were tracking the path of Hurricane Irma for you in our 6abc app. We will alert you to any updates as the storm progresses. You can also get the latest from our team of meteorologists on any possible impact here. Thats 6abc app a Free Download for your mobile device. Breaking news out of medford, new jersey, now, where a helicopter has crashed killing two people. Of those killed, was troy gentry of the popular country duo Montgomery Gentry. This happened just before 1 00 this afternoon in a field near the runway of the flying w airport. Gentry was 50 years old. We still do not know if he was the pilot or the passenger or what led to the accident. The band had been scheduled to perform this evening at a venue at the airport. We will keep you updated throughout the evening as more information becomes available. A disturbing story out of Delaware County where more than two dozen bags of the deadly opioid fentanyl were found in a parking lot of an elementary school, those bags were found by parents waiting outside Saint Bernadette School in drexel hill waiting for their children. Vernon odom live at Upper Darby PoliceDepartment Headquarters with the latest. Vernon. Reporter good evening, monica. Deadly narcotics found in the lot of a small Catholic School here in upper darby, appalling and frightening and angering are the words being used by many parents in their reaction to this. Police tell me they are now closing in on a prime suspect. Today Upper Darby Police released these pictures of 29 plastic bags of fentanyl packaged for sale. They were found yesterday by a parent in the parkinging lot of the Saint Bernadette School in drexel hill. Fentanyl is a deadly opioid derivative more powerful than heroin. Police believe it was dropped at the school accidentally. When you look at where it was found and you look at the circumstances in which it was found in my opinion based on my experience i believe there was probably a parent of one of the children or a guardian of one of the children who dropped it. Reporter superintendent chitwood emphasized that the Saint Bernadette School handled the situation perfectly immediately call police. The drug itself is extremely dangerous if its inhaled or even handled. This stash was locked tight in baggies. Many parents would not discuss the threat but those who did are quite upset. I am shocked. You know, if i found out that there was a parent or a guardian of one of the students, i would be appalled. Reporter again, monica, rick, police say they are focusing on a prime suspect tonight in this case. Im vernon odom, channel6 action news, live in upper darby. Vernon, thank you for that report. Time now for a check of our action news traffic report for your friday night. All right, take it live to matt pelman again in the action news traffic center. Whats new, matt. Oh, boy, rick and monica, weve reached the hour mark on the travel time on 42 northbound. Thats about eight times what it ideally should be. Its a milestone we didnt wish to reach but miles and miles of jammed solid traffic on route 42 thanks to this. My friend donna on twitter tweeted this picture. Its right here in the work zone taking out two lanes along 42 northbound side. So, we are at a standstill coming north of coles road up to that accident scene with delays, bad delays spilling back onto 55 and 295. You want to avoid this whole area around the curve this afternoon. Stay on roads like route 30 the white horse pike, 47, even 130. 295, 55 and 42 are an absolute mess. In delaware its getting better. Overturned vehicle southbound on 95 in wilmington is gone. And in pennsylvania, just the normal fair but that means still single digit speeds along 95 and the schuylkill expressway. Well check it again, rick and monica, coming up in the next half hour. Will do. More still ation news fridu about the award that will further their mission. Later philadelphia now has competition as it vies to become amazons second world headquarters. Why the state of delaware says it is the place amazon should call home. That and more when action news comes right back. Leave it to the pros . I am a pro. I made this lawn from seed pride, and less water than youd think. To those whod say the grass is greener on the other side. I politely disagree. Pennington smart seed. Guaranteed to grow with 30 less water. Reclaim your turf. When i walked through for a cigarette, thats when i knew i had to quit. For real this time. Thats why im using nicorette. Only nicorette gum has patented dualcoated technology for great taste, plus intense craving relief. Every great why needs a great how. Health check tonight a group people in our area are working to improve the lives of others. Now theyre hoping to help further their mission. Ali gorman joins us at the big board with details. Hi ali. Hi guys. Be well philly which is part of philadelphia magazine has its annual health hero challenge under way. Its a contest that helps support local charities and also shines the spotlight on people making philadelphia a better place to live. The nominees are in and voting has started. Fisher editor of be well philly says this years health hero challenge highlights a wide range of local people working to improve the lives of others. We have some really, really interesting people. So, who are hitting healthcare and health from all different angles. From a librarian fighting the Opioid Epidemic a nonprofit helping kids get dental care. These are just a few of the nominees. Its narrowed down to 10 semifinal lifts. Vote for your favorite every day until september 18th. Then three finalists will emerge. I think just voting that act of voting is giving you an opportunity to help make change in philadelphia. The finalists will be rallying for their charity the winner gets a 10,000 donation. The two runners up each get 2,500 from philadelphia magazine and partner independence blue cross. She says they received hundreds of nominations. The contest now in its sixth year gives well deserved recognition to good people doing great things. Hopefully it gets the community more involved in issues they might not have known were issues or in issues theyre already passionate about. And you can read all about each semifinal lifts and what theyre doing to help the community as we said voting is now opened and going until september 18th. We have a link on 6abc. Com health check. Rick and monica. All right, ali, thank you. Terrific. Quick break, more news right after this. Stay with us. They cut the ribbon on a brand new acme in south philadelphia today. Its on snyder plaza on snyder avenue. Swoops and the eagles cheerleaders were there. Customers got to enjoy some free good food from the grille and raffles as well. An acme gave the first 150 shoppers into the store free bag of groceries. Well, we told you yesterday how philadelphia intends to submit a proposal to become amazons second world headquarters. Now delaware is getting in on the action as well. The states governor announced today that the diamond state will make a pitch to amazon to locate its new headquarters there. Governor john carney says the state offers a nurturing environment for business and a great place to live and work. Amazon announced its building a Second Headquarters and is accepting proposals from cities throughout north america. The city of philadelphia celebrating International Literacy day. It was established by the United Nations 51 years ago. The goal of course helping people reach their full potential regardless of geography race gender or class. Mayor jim kenney delivered remarks during todays event at city hall. He says there will be a number of city wide educational events throughout the entire month of september. Much more still ahead on action news at 5 30. A check of the forecast for you on a friday. Lets take you live outside, sky6 hd is looking from penns landing at the ben franklin bridge looking good. Meteorologist cecily tynan with that weekend forecast and the latest on Hurricane Irma when action news comes right back. Do you really use head shoulders . No, not really. I knew that not the one you think you know the tri action formula cleans removing up to 100 of flakes protects and even moisturizes for Sofia Vergara hair cough im never gonna ill take a sick day tomorrow. On our daughters birthday . Moms dont take sick days moms take nyquil severe. The nighttime sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, fever, best sleep with a cold medicine. Fios is not cable. Were a 100 fiber optic network. And with the new fios gigabit connection. You get our fastest. Internet ever. With download speeds up to 940 megs 20 times faster than most people have. Switch to fios gigabit connection with tv and phone for 79. 99 a month online for the first year. Plus hbo for one year and multiroom dvr service for two years, all with a twoyear agreement. And switching has never been easier. Get out of your contract with up to a 500 credit to help cover your early termination fee. Go to fiosgigabit. Com amazing new images this afternoon of Hurricane Irma and hurricane jose as seen from the International Space station. Check this out. The space station flew over the storms before noon today. You can see just how imposing the eye of the storm is from space even. Wow. Hm. Time for the accuweather forecast. Meteorologist cecily tynan has also been keeping a close eye on irma. Youve got some pretty interesting pictures your way as well. I want to talk about the wind damage with irma and the scale which is all about wind and potential for damage. Well head