"Takes your mind off it:" Packers' block party the perfect distraction for those worried about Irma

"Takes your mind off it:" Packers' block party the perfect distraction for those worried about Irma

SHOREWOOD -- A Green Bay Packers' party helped some cope as Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida Sunday, September 10th.Sunday marked the Packers' regular-season opener, and for many, cheering on the green and gold served as a perfect distraction to what was a very stressful week.Crowds gathered for the Packers' block party in Shorewood -- hundreds of miles away from the force of Hurricane Irma.

Hurricane Irma takes down 3rd construction crane; 2 in Miami, 1 in Fort Lauderdale

Hurricane Irma takes down 3rd construction crane; 2 in Miami, 1 in Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE -- A third construction crane has toppled in Florida in the powerful winds of Hurricane Irma.Officials say it happened at a project on Fort Lauderdale beach during the storm Sunday.Officials with developer The Related Group told the Sun-Sentinel the crane collapse caused no injuries and did not appear to damage anything else.Two other cranes toppled earlier in Miami as Irma swirled up the state.

Family drove for 3 days from Tampa area to Kansas City, escaping Irma with 30 dogs

Family drove for 3 days from Tampa area to Kansas City, escaping Irma with 30 dogs

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- Kansas City Animal Control spent much of Saturday afternoon, September 9th working to find shelter for 30 dogs who are in Kansas City until their owners can return home to Florida.The Lavara family made the trip in three days, taking just the essentials."They actually were driving 1,000 miles over from this small town near Tampa to be here," said Maria Lavrava, through translator and family friend Marcelo Mata. "Not even luggage.

Florida Power and Light: More than 3.3 million without power amid Irma

Florida Power and Light: More than 3.3 million without power amid Irma

FLORIDA -- More than 3.3 million homes and businesses — and counting — have lost power in Florida as Hurricane Irma moves up the peninsula.The widespread outages stretch from the Florida Keys all the way into central Florida.Florida Power & Light, the state's largest electric utility, said there were nearly 1 million customers without power in Miami-Dade County alone.The power outages are expected to increase as the storm edges further north.There are roughly 7 million residential customers in the state.

Pasco County sheriff's officials: "Do not shoot weapons at Irma!"

Pasco County sheriff's officials: "Do not shoot weapons at Irma!"

PASCO COUNTY, Florida -- A tweet by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office amid Hurricane Irma is going viral.Sheriff's officials tweeted Saturday, warning people not to shoot the storm.This, in response to a Facebook Event set up by a man who has invited people to shoot the storm, an idea he reportedly came up with "out of stress and boredom."Yahoo News reports more than 55,000 have signed up to join him.Pasco County sheriff's officials said shooting Irma "won't make it turtn around and it will have very dangerous side effects," noting on Twitter that "bullets come back."

Irma recovery could require 11M meals, 24,000 tarps and more

Irma recovery could require 11M meals, 24,000 tarps and more

With the arrival of what is potentially one of the most devastating storms to ever hit Florida, officials have set aside 3.2 million liters (0.85 million gallons) of water, filled 67 trailers with meals, and amassed 24,000 tarps.

Feds, Texas offer choices for students homeless after Harvey

Feds, Texas offer choices for students homeless after Harvey

HOUSTON — Michael Evan Hilburn says he can't wait to start kindergarten this week at a school about 20 miles from the Houston shelter where he and his father have been living since Harvey devastated the city.The 5-year-old is a beneficiary of state and federal laws that seek to make it easier for homeless kids to go to school — a blessing, his father said, as they try to overcome the chaos of a catastrophic disaster that has disrupted life in the nation's fourth-largest city."The sooner he's in school, the sooner I can start work," Michael Howard Hilburn said. "I want him to be happy, make lots of friends.

Evacuated animals from Florida arrive at Wisconsin Humane Society

Evacuated animals from Florida arrive at Wisconsin Humane Society

MILWAUKEE -- The Wisconsin Humane Society has welcomed more than 30 animals that were evacuated from a humane society Lee County, Florida.According to WHS, the dogs, puppies and cats arrived safely at the Milwaukee Campus Saturday night, September 9th.

AP Exclusive: Toxic sites in likely path of Irma

AP Exclusive: Toxic sites in likely path of Irma

MIAMI — Dozens of personnel from the Environmental Protection Agency worked to secure some of the nation's most contaminated toxic waste sites as Hurricane Irma bore down on Florida.

They've been warned: Some insist on riding out Irma at home

They've been warned: Some insist on riding out Irma at home

REDINGTON SHORES, Fla. — Carl Roberts has Chinese food, a case of water and a million-dollar view in his 17th floor Gulf front condo — all he needs, he says, to weather the massive storm coming straight at him.Authorities have beseeched more than 6 million people in Florida and Georgia to evacuate before Hurricane Irma's storm surge and fierce winds make it impossible to flee or be rescued.

Dogs left tied to trees as owners flee Hurricane Irma

Dogs left tied to trees as owners flee Hurricane Irma

FLORIDA -- Some residents evacuating Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma's path, have left their pets tied to trees and cars before fleeing the area -- according to the Palm Beach Post.PalmBeachPost.com reports Dianne Sauve, head of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, said the department will be pursuing criminal charges against owners who abandoned their pets and left them where they would not be able to escape the storm.The report says animal control officers rescued 26 dogs on Friday, from Pahokee and Belle Glade, Florida.