As Florida's authorities rush to complete an unprecedented evacuation of millions ahead of an expected direct hit by Hurricane Irma, officials have issued their final dire warnings. Governor, Rick Scott called it a "killer storm" where people "cannot survive" the expected storm surges, urging residents that Saturday night marked the last chance to "make a good decision and evacuate".

President Donald Trump called Irma a storm of "enormous destructive potential" and urged residents to "get out of its way" adding that "property is replaceable but lives are not".

However, despite the warnings and the near-hurricane winds that began late on Saturday night - not to mention the threat from tornadoes and lightning - many residents of southern Florida are choosing to stay and wait out Irma.

“Now I know my roof can handle this, I’m very happy,” said Elizabeth Hannan, who lives just west of Ft Lauderdale on Florida's eastern coast. She was referring to a shift in the tracking report for Hurricane Irma that showed the storm moving up Florida's western Gulf coast, rather than hitting Miami as had previously been expected.

The shift in path now sees southwestern Florida, and up the coast to Tampa shift into the crosshairs of the storm and its maximum 125mph winds - but as he has done for days, Florida's Governor Scott was at pains on Saturday to pint out that all parts of the state are in danger, whether from the winds or from the storm surges near the coast which Mr Scott sees as the biggest danger.

In a number of media appearances and press conferences Mr Scott said he needed "everyone to listen and get out:.

"The storm surge is what really scares me," he said referring to reports of 10ft to 15ft storm surges around Fort Meyers and Tampa, and up to 6ft in Miami. "You cannot survive this," he added.

Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Show all 45 1 /45 Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Recently planted palm trees lie strewn across the road as Hurricane Irma passes by in Miami Beach, Fla. 10 September 2017. AP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Damage outside the Mercure hotel in Marigot, on the Bay of Nettle, on the island of Saint-Martin AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures People pick up debris in Fajardo as Hurricane Irma howled past Puerto Rico after thrashing several smaller Caribbean islands Reuters/Alvin Baez Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Large waves produced by Hurricane Irma crash into the end of Anglins Fishing Pier in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The category 4 hurricane made landfall in the United States in the Florida Keys at 9:10 a.m. after raking across the north coast of Cuba. 10 September 2017 Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A Royal Air Force Puma has been delivered to the US Virgin Islands to assist with the humanitarian efforts post Hurricane Irma. The Puma will be delivering Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief in support of the Department for International Development. Royal Air Force logisticians from RAF Brize Norton have assisted with the delivery of military personnel and aid cargo to the Caribbean to support disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Irma. RAF aircraft including, C-17 A400M and Voyager are supporting a Joint Task Force of RAF, Royal Marines, Army and RN personnel who are supporting the Department for International Development as it delivers aid to stricken Caribbean Islands. MoD Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Flamingos at Zoo Miami, are shown in a temporary enclosure in a hurricane resistant structure within the zoo, Saturday, 9 September 2017 in Miami. Though most animals will reman in their secure structures, the cheetahs and some birds will ride out the storm in temporary housing. AP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Boats are seen at a marina in South Beach as Hurricane Irma arrives at south Florida, in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. 10 September 2017 Reuters Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Storm clouds are seen over Fisher Island as Hurricane Irma approaches on 9 September 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida. Florida is in the path of the Hurricane which may come ashore at category 4 Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Waves crash over a seawall at the mouth of the Miami River from Biscayne Bay, Fla., as Hurricane Irma passes by. 10 September 2017 AP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Some of the damage on Saint Martin EPA/Gerben Van Es/Dutch Department of Defence Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures The skyline is seen as the outerbands of Hurricane Irma start to reach Florida on 9 September 2017 in Miami, Florida. Florida is in the path of the Hurricane which may come ashore at category 4. Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A tree toped by hurricane Irma is seen on a empty street in Remedios, Cuba, 9 September 2017. Hurricane Irma reached Cuba bringing winds between 160 and 190 kilometers per hour. The hurricane has hit the north coast of the island. EPA Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures James Constantineau loads sands bags in his truck as he prepares for the approach of Hurricane Irma Saturday, 9 September 2017, in East Palatka, Fla. Gov. Rick Scott is urging anyone living in an evacuation zone in southwest Florida to leave by noon as the threat of Hurricane Irma has shifted west. AP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures The Fort Louis Marina in Marigot is seen on 8 September 2017 in Saint-Martin island, devastated by Hurricane Irma. AFP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Destruction in Orient Bay on the island of Saint-Martin AFP/Getty Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures The wreckage in Orient Bay on the island of Saint-Martin AFP/Getty Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures View of the aftermath of Hurricane Irma on Saint Martin Reuters Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A mobile network tower snapped in two by the hurricane on the island of Barbuda ABS TV Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A house reduced to rubble on the island of Saint Barthelemy AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures General view of damage on Saint Martin Reuters Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A damaged Casino Royale on Saint Martin after the passage of Hurricane Irma Anna Mazur/AFP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures An aerial photograph taken and released by the Dutch department of Defense shows the damage of Hurricane Irma in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, the Dutch section of the Caribbean Island Gerben Van Es/AFP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Flooded houses in Gustavia on the island of Saint-Barthelemy Kevin Barrallon/AFP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures The damage on the island of Saint-Martin, a day after Hurricane Irma hit AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A man carrying an umbrella is battered by the wind in Fajardo, Puerto Rico Reuters/Alvin Baez Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A lone police car on patrol during the passing of Hurricane Irma in Fajardo, Puerto Rico Jose Jimenez/Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Haitian people walk through the wind and rain on a beach in Cap-Haitien on September 7 as Hurricane Irma approaches Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A flooded street on the island of Saint Martin AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A tree collapsed on a house in Saint Martin Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A hotel in Saint Martin is gutted by floodwater during the hurricane Guadeloupe 1ère Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Cars submerged in Saint Martin Rinsy Xieng Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Debris floats amongst the floodwater in Saint Martin @la1ere Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Household items float down the street in Gustavia, Saint-Barthélemy Carole Greaux Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures The coast of Saint Martin is flooded as the hurricane hits the island Météo Express Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A whole street underwater in Saint Martin @la1ere Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A car crashes into the tree amongst the chaos in Saint Martin @Bondtehond Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A building on the Saint Martin seafront, destroyed by the hurricane @Bondtehond Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A mobile home overturned at Princess Juliana International Airport in Saint Martin @Bondtehond Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Palm trees bend in the wind in San Juan, Puerto Rico as Hurricane Irma slammed across islands in the northern Caribbean Reuters/Alvin Baez Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A woman runs in the rain as Hurricane Irma slammed into San Juan, Puerto Rico Reuters/Alvin Baez Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A picture taken on September 5, 2017 shows a view of the Baie Nettle beach in Marigot, with the wind blowing ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma AFP/Getty Images Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures A man rides past a boarded up house as part of preparations ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Irma on September 5, 2017, in the French overseas island of Guadeloupe Helene Valenzuela/AFP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Employees of the Mercure Hotel fill sand bags on the Baie Nettle beach in Marigot, as part of the preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Irma Lionel Chamoiseau/AFP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures People in line at Costco, as they find out the store has ran out of water on September 5, 2017 in North Miami Michele Eve Sandberg/AFP Hurricane Irma – devastation caused in pictures Night view of the city of Cap-Haitien, in the north of Haiti, 240 km from Port-au-Prince, on September 5, 2017 Hector Retamal/AFP

In Miami, officials had issued evacuation orders and warned that a direct hit from Irma could lead to major devastation, but many had opted to stay put either at home or in shelters.

As the winds picked up, and heavy rain fell - and tonardos were reported in a number of areas - resident Ms Hannan said that she’s prepared for potential power outages.

More than six million people have been ordered to evacuate Florida - with more across other states such as Georgia - as Irma heads for the US having made its way through the Caribbean killing at least 23 people. The storm which passed over Cuba on Saturday after initially approaching the island as a rare Category 5 storm — was forecast to shift westward away from Florida’s largest city.

In Miami-Dade County, and areas around it, people have rushed to pack into shelters. Many reached capacity quickly, filling up with people coming with supplies to keep themselves fed. More than 50,000 fled to shelters in the entire state of Florida this week, packing into schools and convention centres with their blow up mattresses to wait out the storm.

The Florida Keys, off the southern tip of Florida, were seen as particularly vulnerable as Irma, which left Cuba as a Category 3, but was expected to gain strength back to a category 4 and speed on its way towards America. Irma was expected to approach the Keys by early Sunday morning local time.

Mr Scott has mobilised the entire Florida National Guard to help with the storm, and law enforcement was preparing for search and rescue missions after the storm runs through Florida.

“Florida is prepared. We have great first responders. We have great law enforcement. Every single Florida guardsman that can be has already been deployed,” Mr Scott said.

At the Shenanigans East Side Pub, in Hollywood on the eastern coast more than two dozen people packed in Saturday night to eat pizza, drink beer, and enjoy each other’s company before the worst of Hurricane Irma’s effects were felt in the area.

Outside, lightening lit up the sky, rain pelted rooftops and streets, and palm trees swayed in the increasingly powerful winds.

“We’re going to play it by ear,” one employee said while locking up TVs in a covered courtyard. “We’ll close down when the wind gets bad enough.”

Inside, people discussed whether they’d leave their homes in the morning. And, if not, what else they might do with their day.

Their phones, intermittently, buzzed with warnings of tornado watches nearby. But nobody — not the police who had stopped in at one of the last few places with an open kitchen, or the regulars who knew the bartender by name — seemed too worried about the alerts.

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Nearby, Rick Costello, a lawyer with a home right on the beach in Hollywood, said that he had considered heading inland but was going to stick out the storm in his light blue coastal homes with clay shingles.

“I’m more worried about people out west,” Mr Costello said, watching the waves outside his home before the winds picked up. His home was equipped with metal shields for his glass deck doors facing the ocean, and hurricane-proof windows. He hoped the 10-foot elevation of his home would be enough.

Western residents faced a quick decision on Saturday. Walter Hodgdon was one resident to scrap plans to ride out Hurricane Irma on Saturday when the shifting forecast models suddenly put his home on a barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast directly in its path.

Within hours, Mr Hodgdon and his partner had hastily boarded up their home and were driving to North Carolina.

“Last night, during one of the models, they drew a line right over our house,” said Mr Hodgdon, 58, who lives on Terra Ceia where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico. “We figured if we are going to leave, we are going to leave completely,” he told Reuters.

Back on the eastern coast, Kelvin Morley, of Palmetto Bay, said his house is prone to flooding, and has suffered roof damage during previous, less intense storms and was one of the thousands to seek shelter in the area.

“It's not safe at home,” Mr Morley said, speaking outside the South Miami High School shelter. “I just want everybody to be safe, and then we will rebuild.”

Hurricane Irma has broken records in the Atlantic, and became just the second storm in recorded history to sustain winds of 185 mph for 24 hours straight.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda said that the latter of those two islands is “literally rubble” after Irma hit, with as much as 95 per cent of the infrastructure there damaged by the storm earlier in the week. Reports of death and damage have also emerged from the US and British Virgin Islands, as well as French islands of St Martin and St Barthelemy.

Across a swath of Cuba, utility poles were toppled, trees uprooted and roads blocked on Saturday. Witnesses said a provincial museum near the eye of the storm was in ruins.

Hurricane Jose, which is following Irma, was expected to heap more misery on Islands like St Martin, with officials saying Jose would dump more rain on the island's buildings, many of which lost their roofs to Irma.

However, some islands received a last-minute reprieve from Jose as it passed by. The US National Hurricane Center downgraded a hurricane warning for Barbuda and Anguilla. A hurricane watch also was discontinued for nearby Antigua. By late Saturday, Jose was 85 miles (135 kilometres) northeast of the Leeward Islands, with winds of 145 mph (230 kmh) but moving away from the area.

As Floridians prepared for the storm, shortages of water and gas caused long lines of people hoping to stock up on essentials. Radio DJs allowed listeners to call in with tips on which grocery stores or services stations had finally gotten a shipment of water or gas. Lines quickly formed at those stations, with 10 or more cars at times waiting to top off their tanks.