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Hurricane Matthew May Change Flight Plans At NJ and NY Airports: Port Authority
The hurricane may affect flights to the Southeast from JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, Stewart and Atlantic City airports, officials say.
NEWARK, NJ — Port Authority officials advised commuters in the New Jersey and New York City area on Thursday that Hurricane Matthew may impact air travel to and from the southeastern United States during the next two to three days.
“Airports across the Southeast have closed or plan to close in advance of the hurricane and flights may be delayed, diverted, and/or cancelled,” the Port Authority of NY/NJ stated.
“Air travelers flying to and from that region through John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, Stewart and Atlantic City airports are advised to check the status of their flight with their carrier before heading to the airport,” the agency added.
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Delta also reportedly cancelled 120 flights to and from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports beginning about noon Thursday.
As of Thursday, the storm had regained Category 4 status, with maximum sustained winds clocked at 140 mph.
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Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently declared a state of emergency for all counties in the state as the dangerous storm draws closer. Scott also announced a partial activation of the Florida National Guard in advance of the storm.
President Barack Obama was briefed about Matthew's progress by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Wednesday. Following that briefing, Obama reportedly said the federal government is prepared to respond where needed. He also stressed the need for the public to heed warnings. "This is a serious storm," several media outlets quoted him as saying.
Hurricane Matthew has been blamed for at least 23 deaths in Haiti alone. A total of 29 people have died since the storm began its trek through the tropics, according to the Weather Channel.
- See related article: Deadly Hurricane Matthew Strengthens Significantly on Florida Approach
Photo: Flickr Commons, Bosc d'Anjou
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