Underestimate

"Please don't underestimate this storm"

From CNN Staff

The most important thing the Federal Emergency Management Agency wants people to focus on today is staying safe, its acting associate administrator, Keith Turi, told CNN’s John Berman Thursday.

“Our real focus today is making sure we get the word out to everybody in the storm’s path that please don’t underestimate the storm,” Turi said. “Take it seriously, and particularly if you are in those storm surge areas and you have those evacuation orders, please heed the warnings.”

The agency has been preparing since Monday, Turi said for impacts not only in Florida, but Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama.

Many of the risks hurricanes pose come after landfall, Turi said, offering the following reminders: Watch out for downed power lines, don’t walk or drive through flood water, if your power is out use flashlights, not candles, and if you have a generator, make sure you use that safely – never indoors.

“There will be time to work, focus on repairs and restoration at a later point, but we want to make sure everybody withstands the storm as best as they can,” he said.