Holidaymakers in the Turks and Caicos Islands are being urged to leave, if they can, as Hurricane Matthew approaches.
Authorities have issued a hurricane warning for the islands, with heavy rains and winds of 74mph and above expected in the next few days.
"Tourism officials are urging visitors to leave the Turks and Caicos if they have the means to do so safely," said the warning.
"Visitors unable to leave or opting to remain within the destination are urged to stay inside during the storm."
Officials stressed there is no need to panic as there is ample time for visitors to leave the Turks and Caicos Islands in a ‘calm and orderly manner’.
Immigration services will remain in place at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) to ensure flights are allowed to travel to and from the islands until a decision is taken to close the airports.
In the event of an emergency, visitors are asked to follow management’s protocol at their resort or call 911.
The statement said some hotels throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands are built to safely accommodate people during a hurricane.
"The main goal is to keep everyone safe," it said. "Visitors are reminded that the safest place to be during the storm is inside."
Emergency officials are also preparing to respond to severe flooding as Hurricane Matthew is expected to produce two to five inches of rainfall with isolated maximum amounts of eight inches.
Weather experts expect Hurricane Matthew to take a northwestward turn across the Bahamas later this week before reaching the southeastern US coast.
Accuweather warned that the seas and surf will build to dangerous and damaging levels and there would be a threat to lives and property well beyond the Caribbean.
"Large swells will propagate outward from the hurricane and will reach the coastline from eastern Florida to North Carolina in the form of building surf and increasing rip currents," said AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.
He warned of dangerous conditions for swimmers and surfers, small craft, as well as cruise, fishing and freight vessels.
In addition to dangerous surf, tropical storm to hurricane force conditions may brush the eastern coasts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for every county in the state due to the severity and magnitude of the hurricane.
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory yesterday declared a state of emergency for 66 counties in eastern and central North Carolina in anticipation of Matthew.
