(AP)-- Florida's governor is warning residents that storm surge of up to 12 feet in places will inundate houses.
Gov. Rick Scott urged anyone living in an evacuation zone in southwest Florida to leave by noon Saturday as the threat of Hurricane Irma has shifted west.
He says the storm is "going to go faster than you are."
Scott said 25,000 people in Florida have already lost electricity as Irma's outer bands have begun hitting the southern part of the state.
"This is a deadly storm. And our state has never seen anything like it. Millions of Floridians will see major hurricane impacts with deadly storm surge and life-threatening winds," the governor said.
The governor also warned of dangerous storm surge of between 6 feet (2 meters) and 12 feet (4 meters) across parts of Florida.
He said: "This will cover your house."
The WPTV web team contributed to this report.
