Irma looms as the mythical ‘Big One’ Florida has long feared

They call it the Big One – a mythic, massive hurricane that would obliterate the densely populated southeast coast. And it has long been the stuff of Florida’s nightmares.

Section:Gallery

Thu., Sept. 7, 2017

Residents fill up sandbags Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Orlando, Fla., as they prepare for Hurricane Irma. Long lines of vehicles waited for hours to get a 10 sandbag limit at the City of Orlando Public Works.

Red Huber Associated Press
In this geocolor image captured by GOES-16 and released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hurricane Irma approaches Anguilla on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017.
Northbound traffic on the Florida turnpike is backed up in the rain as motorist prepare for Hurricane Irma on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 in Sunrise, Fla.

Mike Stocker Associated Press
On Tuesday, residents wait in a long line to purchase water at BJ Wholesale in Miami in preparation for Hurricane Irma.

Roberto Koltun Associated Press
Tyrone Tomlinson, 27, of Orlando, uses a family wheelchair to ferry sandbags to be used on the front porch of their family home in Orlando, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, as residents prepare for Hurricane Irma. Long lines of vehicles waited for hours to get a 10 sand bag limit at the City of Orlando Public Works.

Red Huber Associated Press
Edward Pastrana installs wood shutters at the Miami City Ballet in Miami Beach, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for the Florida Keys and parts of South Florida. Mandatory evacuations were issued for the Florida Keys and coastal areas in South Florida.

Marta Lavandier Associated Press
Lauren Jackowiec, the adoptions manager for the Jacksonville, Fla., Humane Society, loads crates of cats into the Humane Society's van for an evacuation trip to Sarasota, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. On the day that the Humane Society was to move animals into their new building they started the process of evacuating animals at the shelter to facilities out of the city ahead of Hurricane Irma. On Friday the dogs will begin a journey to a shelter in Lynchburg, Va.

Bob Self Associated Press