Part of US at the mercy of hurricane Irma

Parts of the US is set to be devastated by hurricane Irma as early as Saturday night as officials are prepare a massive response to the storm.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, has warned that with Florida about to be hit by Irma, parts of state were expected to lose electricity for days, if not longer, and more than 100,000 people may need shelter. 

Hurricane Irma continues to be a threat that is going to devastate the United States in either Florida or some of the southeastern states, said FEMA administrator Brock Long warned at a news conference.

Long warned people not to ignore evacuation orders.

They need to get out and listen and heed the warnings, Long said.

Meanwhile US President Donald Trump has urged residents in its path to heed government recommendations.

This is a storm of absolutely historic destructive potential. I ask everyone in the storm's path to be vigilant and to heed all recommendations from government officials and law enforcement, Trump said in a videotaped statement.

Irma was a Category 5 hurricane, the most dangerous measure by the National Hurricane Center, before being downgraded to Category 4 early on Friday after pummelling islands in the Caribbean.