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Hurricane Matthew: Florida hit with 120-mph winds, nearly 1 million lose power

Here's what we know

The category 3 storm has winds reaching 120-mph extending from its centre

President Obama has declared state of emergencies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina

The storm has killed more than 800 people in Haiti

Its eyewall is a few miles off Florida's coast

Four people have died in Florida as emergency crews struggled to respond to their calls

More than 1 million residents in Florida are without electricity

Justin Carissimo

New York

,Rachael Revesz

Friday 07 October 2016 12:34 BST

Hurricane Matthew hits the US

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1/18Hurricane Matthew hits the US

COCOA BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 07: Metal is wrapped around a palm tree due to the heavy winds of Hurricane Matthew, October 7, 2016 on Cocoa Beach, Florida. Hurricane Matthew passed by offshore as a catagory 3 hurricane bringing heavy winds and minor flooding. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Heavy rain and wind blow in an area near Atlantic Beach, Florida, on October 7, 2016, as hurricane Matthew approaches the area. Hurricane Matthew unleashed torrential rains and up to 120 mile-an-hour winds as it hugged the Florida coast Friday, after a blast through the Caribbean that reportedly left at least 400 dead in Haiti. / AFP / Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

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National Guard units 1782 and 172 of Chester and Lancaster, South Carolina, board vehicles while deploying for duty for Hurricane Matthew service in Conway, South Carolina, U.S. October 6, 2016. REUTERS/Randall Hill - RTSR201

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A fallen tree is seen outside a house after Hurricane Matthew hits in Melbourne, Florida, U.S., October 7, 2016. REUTERS/Henry Romero - RTSR89S

Sandbags are seen in front of a business ahead of Hurricane Matthew in Georgetown, South Carolina October 6, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Keane - RTSR43O

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An elderly man rests his head at a shelter for evacuees in a high school hallway before the arrival of Hurricane Matthew in North Charleston, South Carolina on October 7, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake - RTSR8WK

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A resident walks past a wall of sandbags protecting a store in one of the city's low-lying areas before the arrival of Hurricane Matthew, in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., October 7, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake - RTSR7SH

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Homeowner Don Appell prepares to board up one of the windows at his home ahead of Hurricane Matthew in Cherry Grove, South Carolina, U.S. October 6, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Keane - RTSR2RD

REUTERS

ST AUGUSTINE, FL - OCTOBER 07: Cars are seen in a flooded parking lot as Hurricane Matthew passes through the area on October 7, 2016 in St Augustine, Florida. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have all declared a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Matthew. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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PORT ORANGE, FL - OCTOBER 07: Metal lies on the ground at a gas station damaged by the heavy winds of Hurricane Matthew, October 7, 2016 on Port Orange, Florida. Hurricane Matthew passed by offshore as a catagory 3 hurricane bringing heavy winds and minor flooding. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 7: A view of a collapsed roof at a gas station after Hurricane Matthew passes through on October 7, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have all declared a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Matthew. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 7: A vehicle drives through water on International Speedway Boulevard after Hurricane Matthew passes through on October 7, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have all declared a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Matthew. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 07: U.S. President Barack Obama (C) talks with reporters after meeting with members of his national security and disaster response teams to discuss Hurricane Matthew in the Oval Office at the White House October 7, 2016 in Washington, DC. The hurricane is now a category 3 and is headed for Florida after wreaking havoc in Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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A US flag blows in the wind in Atlantic Beach, Florida, on October 7, 2016, as hurricane Matthew approaches the area. Hurricane Matthew unleashed torrential rains and up to 120 mile-an-hour winds as it hugged the Florida coast Friday, after a blast through the Caribbean that reportedly left at least 400 dead in Haiti. / AFP / Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

COCOA BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 07: Heavy waves caused by Hurricane Matthew pounds the boat docks at the Sunset Bar and Grill, October 7, 2016 on Cocoa Beach, Florida. Hurricane Matthew passed by offshore as a catagory 3 hurricane bringing heavy winds and minor flooding. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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ORMOND BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 7: A downed tree from high winds rests against a car in a residential community after Hurricane Matthew passes through on October 7, 2016 in Ormond Beach, Florida. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have all declared a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Matthew. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

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FORT PIERCE, FL - OCTOBER 07: Tree branches that snapped off trees are seen blocking the road after Hurricane Matthew passed through the area on October 7, 2016 in Fort Pierce, Florida. The hurricane is expected to make landfall sometime this evening or early in the morning as a possible category 4 storm. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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COCOA BEACH, FL - OCTOBER 07: Palm trees sway from the winds of Hurricane Matthew, October 7, 2016 on Cocoa Beach, Florida. Hurricane Matthew passed by offshore as a category 3 hurricane bringing heavy wind and some flooding. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Hurricane Matthew, the Category 3 storm with winds reaching 120mph, has battered the Florida coast with high-powered gusts and continuous rain. The eye of the storm is currently running parallel to the coast, and making its way north-northwest. The storm is said to be responsible for more than 800 deaths in Haiti and has devastated the Caribbean throughout the week.

President Barack Obama has declared state of emergencies Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will both coordinate relief efforts off the coast. More than 1 million residents have been evacuated in Florida and more than 1 million people are experiencing power outages in the state.

"We are just bracing and the winds are picking up," Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry told CNN early Friday morning. "A great number of our residents have taken heed to our warnings and we are certainly concerned about those that have not."

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