Aussies in Florida batten the hatches in anticipation of Irma's fury

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Aussies in Florida batten the hatches in anticipation of Irma's fury

By Peter Mitchell
Updated

Los Angeles: Australians across Florida have hunkered down in their homes or fled as the massive killer storm Hurricane Irma takes aim at the US state.

Irma dropped to a category three hurricane when it hit Cuba, but is expected to feed on warmer waters as it powers north and transform back into a category four with 225km/h winds, 4.5 metres of storm surge and 46cm of rain when it strikes the southern tip of Florida on Sunday morning (Monday AEST).

Irma's predicted path has shifted to the west coast of Florida, likely sparing former Sydney yacht broker David Nichols who chose to stay in his home in Fort Lauderdale, on the southeast side of the state.

Mr Nichols, who has lived in Florida for 40 years and endured many hurricanes including 1992's catastrophic Hurricane Andrew, is still expecting a rough night as he rides out the hurricane with wife Sara, in-laws and the family cat Newton.

Spencer Hooker, co-owner of The Kookaburra Cafe, and staff member Kaitlin Bath, in St Augustine, Florida on Thursday

Spencer Hooker, co-owner of The Kookaburra Cafe, and staff member Kaitlin Bath, in St Augustine, Florida on ThursdayCredit: AAP

"The track has veered to the left so it's going to give us a big breather," Mr Nichols said on Saturday afternoon.

"I'm not overconfident.

"We'll still see high tropical, low hurricane force winds.

"It's just about being like a boy scout – be prepared."

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Australian yacht broker David Nichols after boarding up windows in Fort Lauderdale

Australian yacht broker David Nichols after boarding up windows in Fort LauderdaleCredit: AAP

The Nichols are in a single level home on Fort Lauderdale's New River and they have boarded up most of the windows.

They are confident they will avoid flooding,

Another Australian in Fort Lauderdale, Gavin Caddy, packed up his apartment on Thursday and drove 240km north to the city of Sebring, located in the centre of Florida, to stay at his girlfriend's parents' home.

He was also cautiously optimistic about Irma's forecast western path.

"Being central is good because if you are on the coast and it strikes where the coast is, the storm doesn't slow down at all," Mr Caddy, a construction lawyer who has lived in Florida since 1994, so also has plenty of hurricane experience, said.

In the northeast coastal Florida city of St Augustine, Queensland barista Oliver McLeod, his eight-month pregnant wife Jennifer, their three-year-old son Luca and dog Rubi decided to drive north to North Carolina on Saturday where an Australian friend has a cabin.

They were contemplating staying in St Augustine at a friend's home as their home is on the beach so was at risk, but opted to take the safer North Carolina option.

Jennifer is due in two weeks and is planning a home birth, but the couple has lined up midwives and hospitals in the area just in case their baby comes early.

Mr McLeod, 26, said roads out of Florida did not have much traffic and service stations had petrol, although "some were cheekily trying to rip you off with over the top gas prices".

Mr McLeod, formerly from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast, is a barista at one of the four Aussie style The Kookaburra meat pie and coffee cafes in St Augustine co-owned by another Australian, Spencer Hooker.

Mr Hooker is staying in St Augustine and said he will ride out the storm with "lots of pies and beer".

Another Australian, Cameron Pinnock, his wife Alyssa and two children aged seven and two-years-old took no chances with staying in their home in Orlando in central Florida.

They flew north to Michigan earlier in the week, even buying a ticket for their family dog, to wait out the hurricane with family.

AAP

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