Havana, September 6 (RHC)-- Caribbean island nations and the U.S. state of Florida are making emergency preparations and evacuations as the potentially catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Irma barrels across the Atlantic Ocean.

Early Wednesday morning, the hurricane made landfall on the island nation of Barbuda and then the islands Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy.  The storm is one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded, with winds up to 185 mph, strong enough to destroy entire buildings.

Puerto Rico has declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard.  Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló warns the storm could devastate the island’s infrastructure.

In San Juan, Puerto Rico’s power company says parts of the island could be left without power for up to six months.  The Bahamas are currently undertaking the largest evacuation in the nation’s history.  And Florida has also begun to close schools and evacuate residents.