Turks and Caicos tells holidaymakers to leave as hurricane approaches
Holidaymakers in the Turks and Caicos Islands are being urged to leave, if they can, as Hurricane Matthew approaches.
Authorities have issued a hurricane warning for the islands, with heavy rains and winds of 74mph and above expected in the next few days.
"Tourism officials are urging visitors to leave the Turks and Caicos if they have the means to do so safely," said the warning.
"Visitors unable to leave or opting to remain within the destination are urged to stay inside during the storm."
Officials stressed there is no need to panic as there is ample time for visitors to leave the Turks and Caicos Islands in a ‘calm and orderly manner’.
Immigration services will remain in place at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) to ensure flights are allowed to travel to and from the islands until a decision is taken to close the airports.
In the event of an emergency, visitors are asked to follow management’s protocol at their resort or call 911.
The statement said some hotels throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands are built to safely accommodate people during a hurricane.
"The main goal is to keep everyone safe," it said. "Visitors are reminded that the safest place to be during the storm is inside."
Emergency officials are also preparing to respond to severe flooding as Hurricane Matthew is expected to produce two to five inches of rainfall with isolated maximum amounts of eight inches.
Weather experts expect Hurricane Matthew to take a northwestward turn across the Bahamas later this week before reaching the southeastern US coast.
Accuweather warned that the seas and surf will build to dangerous and damaging levels and there would be a threat to lives and property well beyond the Caribbean.
"Large swells will propagate outward from the hurricane and will reach the coastline from eastern Florida to North Carolina in the form of building surf and increasing rip currents," said AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
He warned of dangerous conditions for swimmers and surfers, small craft, as well as cruise, fishing and freight vessels.
In addition to dangerous surf, tropical storm to hurricane force conditions may brush the eastern coasts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for every county in the state due to the severity and magnitude of the hurricane.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory yesterday declared a state of emergency for 66 counties in eastern and central North Carolina in anticipation of Matthew.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025