Officials declare states of emergencies in eastern coast states as they brace for Category 5 Hurricane Dorian.

The National Hurricane Center has called it “a life-threatening situation.” Dorian, it said, is “the strongest hurricane in modern records for the Northwestern Bahamas” and that “catastrophic conditions [are] occurring in the Abacos Islands.”

The International Space Station filmed Dorian from outer space:

The International Space Station filmed Hurricane Dorian from above, revealing just how massive the hurricane is pic.twitter.com/DM6tEDEFKE

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) September 2, 2019

It is poised to hit Florida before moving up the eastern seaboard from Florida to North Carolina, including Georgia, South Carolina and Southeast Virginia.

A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the east coast of Florida from north of Deerfield Beach to the Volusia/Brevard County Line, the center said. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from north of Deerfield Beach to the Volusia/Brevard County Line. A Tropical Storm Watch is in place for Lake Okeechobee.

“Dorian is a extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane … ” the hurricane center said. “Dorian is expected to remain a powerful hurricane during the next few days. Dorian has grown larger in size. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km).”

The storms trajectory could hit Florida, then turn north and bombard a number of coastal states, weather forecasters predict.

The Coastal Carolinas are expected to receive 5-10 inches of rainfall by the end of the week, and in some places up to 15 inches, and life-threatening flash floods.

To prepare for hurricane evacuation the National Weather Service has information on its website:

Do you live in a hurricane evacuation zone? If so, you need to plan on where you and your family would go if you are told to evacuate. Learn what to do with FEMA’s Evacuation Guidelines, and know your evacuation route! https://t.co/JRBfc9eLXR #HurricanePrep #Dorian pic.twitter.com/mpZDqTqF5t

— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 2, 2019