Incoming storm (illustration)
Incoming storm (illustration)iStock

Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) declared a state of emergency on Monday evening in every county in the state in preparation for Hurricane Irma, which was upgraded earlier to a Category 4 storm.

Scott's order notes that the National Hurricane Center predicts the storm will be a "major hurricane located somewhere north of Cuba and south of Andros Island in the Bahamas."

"Hurricane Irma poses a severe threat to the entire State of Florida, and requires that timely precautions are taken to protect the communities, critical infrastructure, and general welfare of this State," the order states, according to The Hill.

"As governor, I am responsible to meet the dangers presented to this state and its people by this emergency," Scott says.

Earlier on Monday, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló (D) also declared a state of emergency ahead of the impending storm.

The National Hurricane Center said that Irma had strengthened to a Category 4 storm, with winds reaching 130 miles per hour as the East Coast braces for the hurricane.

Irma is the second major storm to have hit the U.S. in recent weeks.

Last month, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas and brought devastating flooding to the region.

Thousands of people were displaced in the aftermath of the storm and recovery is still ongoing.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who visited affected areas in Houston and in Louisiana on Saturday, last week pledged $1 million in personal funds to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.