Emergency declared in Florida ahead of Ike

MIAMI, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency Friday, saying Hurricane Ike could force the evacuation of up to 1.3 million people by Tuesday.

The eye of the Category 3 hurricane was 360 miles east-northeast of Grand Turk Island, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 11 p.m. EDT update. A hurricane warning was posted late Friday for the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern portions of the Bahamas.

Ike was moving west-southwest at almost 16 mph.

The NHC urged people in the watch areas, Cuba, South Florida and the Florida Keys to monitor Ike's progress.

Ike is predicted to make landfall in Florida some time Tuesday, the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported.

"We are in a state of emergency. We are in a state of emergency as we prepare for potential damage from Hanna and Ike," Crist said. "And with Hurricane Ike moving west as a dangerous Category 3, we cannot let our guard down."

Ike's maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph. Hurricane force winds extended 45 miles from the center and tropical storm winds 120 miles.

Crist said it was too soon to determine where, if anywhere, evacuations would be necessary.