Irma smashes into Florida coast bringing tornadoes, tidal surges and 130mph winds

 Jerry McCarthy and Florence Collins wait to be allowed in to the Germain Arena in Estero, Florida 

Metal shutters cover the entrance to a Target store in Port Orange which sits just south of Daytona Beach 

Miami streets hit with debris as Hurricane Irma moves in

All of the airports in southeast Florida are now closed and anyone who is still there is being told to leave urgently or take refuge in one of the shelters being set up. 

In Miami, officials admitted they were 'rewriting the book' as they went along to try to prepare for Irma.

Evacuees who have been able to get to a shelter compared the cramped conditions inside to Guantanamo Bay.

Some people are being turned away as high schools and other public spaces reach capacity.

Despite it no longer sitting directly in Irma's path, there were fears Miami could be reduced to a 'third world country' by its winds. 

Towering cranes which officials did not have the time to remove before the weekend are at risk of toppling and the windows of the many high-rise apartment buildings will shatter under Category 4 or 5 force sustained winds, storm-chaser Ben McMillan told  Fox News.  

Every flight out of Miami's International Airport was cancelled as Irma approached

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