Hurricane Dorian has already done significant damage to The Bahamas, tearing off roofs and causing major flooding in parts of the multi-island country.
Residents posted footage showing floodwaters engulfing some homes after high winds had torn their roofs off.
Videos also show capsized boats floating in floodwaters filled with debris.
Dorian, the most powerful storm to hit the Bahamas since records began, arrived in The Bahamas as a category five storm, with sustained winds of up to 180 miles per hour.
Government officials had warned of a life-threatening storm surge of 23 feet in places.
Areas of the Abaco islands were reported to be underwater after the storm hit Elbow Cay Sunday afternoon.
The storm has begun to batter Grand Bahama Island with high winds and torrential rainfall and is expected to continue moving over that island on Monday.
Hurricane Dorian is due to move closer to Florida's east coast late Monday.
The hurricane is moving slowly westwards and may hit areas of the eastern US seaboard.
The US states of Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina have all declared states of emergency.
Regional response
Jamaica's Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, has confirmed that he has been in contact with his Bahamian counterpart, Dr. Hubert Minnis, and assured him of Jamaica's support during his country's period of recovery from the storm.
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has already sent a team to The Bahamas to coordinate the Regional Response Mechanism.
Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of CDEMA, told RJR News that the rapid needs assessment team will focus on the islands most affected by Dorian.
He said being "on the ground" will allow regional support to be mobilized immediately after the all clear is given.
All feeds
