Governors Declare States of Emergency as Matthew Bears Down on US

The Atlantic's most powerful storm in a decade is now bearing down on the United States. Days after hammering Haiti and Cuba, Hurricane Matthew has four U.S. states on high alert.

Matthew first made landfall Tuesday on Haiti's southwestern tip, leaving rivers bloated and many people who live in shacks made of wood or concrete blocks without homes.

For the latest track/forecast of Hurricane Matthew, visit the National Hurricane Center.

How You Can Help:
Give to Operation Blessing

"The entire place is destroyed," one resident lamented. "Nothing was spared - nothing. All the trees were destroyed, ripped off. We don't have anything to help us survive."

Thousands of people have been displaced as the Category 4 hurricane pounded the island nation. With roads blocked and communications down in parts of the country, details are still coming in. But several deaths are already known as rescue workers struggle to reach some of the worst-hit areas.

CBN's Operation Blessing, which has been in Haiti since the devastating 2010 earthquake, has teams prepared to rebuild homes and provide clean drinking water to affected residents.

"Even before the storm we started preparing by purchasing building materials to help fix homes immediately," Operation Blessing's Eric Lotz told CBN News. "We have a chlorine manufacturing machine operating 24/7 about three or four days ago to stock up on chlorine."

Meanwhile, residents in Hollywood, Florida, are getting ready as hurricane and tropical storm warnings are posted along the east coast of the Sunshine State.

"We're buying a bunch of canned food, a bunch of water," resident Veronica Andric said.

"You have your batteries and your lanterns and your flashlights," Ina Reiss, another resident, said.

Lotte Purkis is also among the many residents bracing for the storm's arrival.

"Whatever happens, even if the eye doesn't go over, I think we're going to get a lot of swale, of wind. I think it's best just to stay safe," Purkis said.

In North Carolina, Joe Gillis, a fifth-generation cotton farmer is praying for a miracle. He fears Matthew's strong winds and rain could potentially devastate a season's worth of crop.

"You know, the good Lord's going to do what He's going to do to us," he said. "And we're just going to have to keep the faith and hope that by some stretch of the imagination we'll make it through and still be able to salvage some of the crop."

In South Carolina, Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered more than a million people to evacuate the state's coastline today ahead of Hurricane Matthew.

"We anticipate averaging about a 100 mph winds, so this is something that we want to take very seriously," Haley said.

Haley joined governors of three other states -- Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina -- in declaring states of emergency as forecasters expect Matthew to hit the southeast U.S. coast later this week.

"If you're able to leave early and go today, do that. Don't take a chance," Florida Gov. Rick Scott admonished residents.

Forecasters say it will likely take another day or so to get a better picture of the path and potential impact that Hurricane Matthew could have on the United States.