Wilma, a disorganized tropical storm, gained hurricane strength late yesterday morning and has continued to build speed and intensity growing to a Category 5 Hurricane in less than 24 hours.
(Photo Source: NOAA)

According to meteorologists, Wilma is likely to maintain its Category 5 Hurricane status at least through Thursday. Although it is expected to diminish some before making landfall, much like Hurricane Rita, it will still be a dangerous storm. Wilma is currently in the Caribbean approximately 500 miles south of Key West and is heading west to northwest at 7 mph. Once the storm reaches the Gulf of Mexico, it is expected to make a sharp turn to the northeast, say experts.

While the projected path of the storm is still conjecture, officials in Florida aren't taking any chances. With strong indications that the storm will approach from the west hitting the Florida Keys and its southwest coast before moving across the state to the Atlantic coast, officials are advising residents to be watchful and prepared. At noon today, Monroe County officials in Florida called for an evacuation of tourists from the Florida Keys.

The American Red Cross continues to monitor the storm's progress and urges all residents to prepare now by creating an evacuation plan, assembling a disaster supplies kit and making or updating a family communications plan. Preparing for a hurricane ahead of time can help alleviate the stress during the storm, and ease the burden on family and loved ones afterwards.

Hurricanes are measured by several factors including atmospheric pressure, wind speed and storm surge. Storm categories are assigned based on the Saffir-Simpson scale by wind speed and storm surge. A millibar (mb) is a metric unit for measuring atmospheric (barometric) pressure – the force exerted by the weight of the air – used by meteorologists; the lower the pressure, the more intense the hurricane.

With sustained winds of more than 165 mph, Hurricane Wilma is a dangerous Category 5 storm. But, it is the pressure reading taken this morning that made it the most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. At 882 mb, Wilma's was the lowest value ever observed in the Atlantic basin, stronger than the previous record-holder – an unnamed Category 5 Hurricane that made landfall in the Florida Keys on Labor Day weekend in 1935.

On Monday, Wilma became the 21st named storm of the 2005 hurricane season and became the 12th hurricane yesterday morning when its winds exceeded 74 mph, making it a Category 1 Hurricane. It continued to build speed and intensity overnight reaching sustained winds of 175 mph earlier today.

Sadly, the outer bands of the storm have already wreaked havoc on some coastal areas and islands in the Caribbean. Heavy rains brought on by Wilma triggered mudslides in Haiti resulting in at least 11 reported deaths, with another death in Jamaica attributed to the storm.

28 local Oregon volunteers have been sent out in response to Hurricane Wilma. The American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter is continually grateful to have so many volunteers who are not only helping where needed nationally, but bringing their experience home to help us be a stronger, more prepared community responding to local needs.

For more information regarding how to prepare for disasters, visit “Together We Prepare Oregon”.

To track Wilma's progress, visit the National Hurricane Center .

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of recents disasters and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org . The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.