The chaos continues: Matthew causes more than 4,500 flight cancellations as major cruise ports remain closed and governor says road tolls will stay suspended

  • Hurricane Matthew has left more than 600,000 without power in the state
  • Continued to batter the central coast as eye of the storm moved north
  • Jacksonville and Orlando International Airports closed until Saturday
  • But Tampa and Palm Beach reopened with Miami and Fort Lauderdale
  • Disneyland, Universal Orlando, Seaworld remained shut on Friday 
  • Port Miami, the 'Cruise Capital of the World', is also still closed  

More than 4,5000 flights were canceled and Florida's major cruise ports remained shut down as Hurricane Matthew continued to wreak havoc across the state.

The Category 3 storm, which has already killed 842 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, battered the central coast of Florida early Friday morning.

More than 600,000 people in the state were left without power as Matthew's eyewall, the most dangerous part of the storm, moved north.

Governor Rick Scott also announced that road tolls in the state will stay suspended until 24 hours after Matthew passes to allow for continued evacuations.  

Travelers in the southern part of the state did wake up to good news on Friday as airports began to open their doors and flights got back on the departures board. 

But operations remained shut in much of the central and northeastern parts of the state as residents continue to wait and see if Matthew will make landfall.

Palm Beach International Airport (pictured here on Thursday) planned to resume normal operations by noon on Friday, joining Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports 

Palm Beach International Airport (pictured here on Thursday) planned to resume normal operations by noon on Friday, joining Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports 

Although many of the airports' flights remained canceled throughout Friday morning, a number of trips set to takeoff after noon were scheduled or only delayed 

Although many of the airports' flights remained canceled throughout Friday morning, a number of trips set to takeoff after noon were scheduled or only delayed 

AIRPORTS

That's the case in Jacksonville, where residents were warned of a 'worst case storm surge scenario'. 

Forecasters warned that a 'direct impact' by Matthew on land would make it unlike 'an hurricane in the modern era', according to ABC News.   

Jacksonville International Airport announced on Friday that all flights were canceled. 

Orlando International Airport also ceased all commercial flight operations, making the decision to shut down at 8pm on Thursday. 

It does not expect to 'gradually resume' flight operations until Saturday. 

Two passengers attempt to get on a flight to Atlanta before the Daytona International Airport closed down on Thursday

Two passengers attempt to get on a flight to Atlanta before the Daytona International Airport closed down on Thursday

More than 4,500 flights were canceled on Thursday, and both Jacksonville and Orlando airports did not change plans to keep all planes grounded on Friday

More than 4,500 flights were canceled on Thursday, and both Jacksonville and Orlando airports did not change plans to keep all planes grounded on Friday

The airport itself did not close, but advised passengers to avoid using the airport to wait out the storm as it was not an approved Red Cross shelter. 

But transportation began to slowly resume in the south of Florida, where cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale missed the brunt of the storm.  

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport reopened their terminals on Friday morning.  

‘Our airline partners are implementing their plans to resume service later this morning’, the airport wrote on its official Twitter.

It added that Southwest Airlines, Air Canada, Allegiant and Carribean Airlines had cancelled all their flights for the day and were expected to resume operations on Saturday.

Travel operations remained shut in much of the central and northeastern parts of the state as Matthew's eyewall, the most dangerous part of the storm, moved north (pictured) 

Travel operations remained shut in much of the central and northeastern parts of the state as Matthew's eyewall, the most dangerous part of the storm, moved north (pictured) 

Transportation began to slowly resume in the south of Florida, where cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale (pictured) missed the brunt of the storm and happily partied instead 

Transportation began to slowly resume in the south of Florida, where cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale (pictured) missed the brunt of the storm and happily partied instead 

But it was a much different pictures northeastern cities such as Daytona Beach (pictured) 

But it was a much different pictures northeastern cities such as Daytona Beach (pictured) 

Many flights from other airlines remained canceled throughout Friday morning, but most departures after noon remain scheduled or, at most, delayed. 

Airlines at Miami International Airport gradually resumed their operations on Friday, although many flights remained cancelled through noon as well. 

Tampa International Airport is also open and in operation, posting on Twitter that the FAA was showing ‘general delays of 15 minutes or less’ at the airport.

Palm Beach International Airport planned to resume normal operations by noon on Friday. 

 AMUSEMENT PARKS   

As Hurricane Matthew shifts course to the East, Walt Disney World managed to avoid the worst of the storm on Friday morning. 

The storm did cause a bit of chaos at the Orlando Disney resorts after the parks all closed operations at 5pm, causing guests to return to the hotels at the same time. 

Many tried to get dinner at the same time, which overburdened the food courts and left lines snaking around the entire cafeteria, according to the Disney Blog.    

As Hurricane Matthew shifts course to the East, Walt Disney World managed to avoid the worst of the storm on Friday morning - despite these dark clouds that were pictured Thursday 

As Hurricane Matthew shifts course to the East, Walt Disney World managed to avoid the worst of the storm on Friday morning - despite these dark clouds that were pictured Thursday 

The clouds also covered  the Harry Potter ride at Universal Orlando, which like Disney World remained shut on Friday. Normal operations are expected to resume on Saturday 

The clouds also covered the Harry Potter ride at Universal Orlando, which like Disney World remained shut on Friday. Normal operations are expected to resume on Saturday 

And one Twitter user snapped a picture a construction site that was flooded at Disney's Wildness Lodge, a resort inspired by 'America's Great Northwest'.   

She also shared a picture of the hotel's lobby, which was filled with people participating in organized activities.  

Disney has only ever closed its doors three previous times for hurricanes - back in 1999 for Floyd and twice in 2004 for Frances and Jeanne. 

One Twitter user shared a picture a construction site that was flooded at Disney's Wildness Lodge, a resort inspired by 'America's Great Northwest'

One Twitter user shared a picture a construction site that was flooded at Disney's Wildness Lodge, a resort inspired by 'America's Great Northwest'

She also shared a picture of the hotel's lobby, which was filled with people participating in organized activities

She also shared a picture of the hotel's lobby, which was filled with people participating in organized activities

The amusement park remained shut on Friday and waived all hotel cancelation fees and dining costs for unlucky guests.

Universal Orlando also remained shut on Friday and cancelled its Halloween Horror Nights. Normal operations were scheduled to resume on Saturday.

Seaworld Orlando shut at 2pm on Thursday and also remained closed on Friday.

People leave Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park, in heavy rain, after it closed in Orlando, Florida in preparation for the landfall of Hurricane Matthew on Thursday

People leave Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park, in heavy rain, after it closed in Orlando, Florida in preparation for the landfall of Hurricane Matthew on Thursday

More guests are seen clearing out of the theme park as rain came barreling down on Thursday

More guests are seen clearing out of the theme park as rain came barreling down on Thursday

Disney has only ever closed its doors three previous times for hurricanes - back in 1999 for Floyd and twice in 2004 for Frances and Jeanne 

Disney has only ever closed its doors three previous times for hurricanes - back in 1999 for Floyd and twice in 2004 for Frances and Jeanne 

Universal Orlando also remained shut on Friday and cancelled its Halloween Horror Nights. Normal operations were scheduled to resume on Saturday

Universal Orlando also remained shut on Friday and cancelled its Halloween Horror Nights. Normal operations were scheduled to resume on Saturday

 CRUISES & TRAINS

Port Miami, known as the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’, announced on Friday it would reopen after US Coast Guard inspections and navigation assessments were made to ensure ‘all is clear and safe for vessel traffic’.

Port Everglades remained closed to all ship and truck traffic on Friday, with no cruise ships scheduled to depart until Saturday. 

Amtrak services remained suspended in the south due to  severe weather impacting the east coast of Florida.

The Silver Star 91 & 92 (New York City to Miami), Silver Meteor 97 & 98 (Miami to New York City), and the Auto Train 52 & 53 (Lorton, Va., to Sanford, Florida) services were all cancelled for Thursday and Friday. 

No alternative services were scheduled. 

Thousands of Florida families were also caught in gridlock across the state and up the East Coast into the Carolinas and Georgia on Thursday as they fled their homes

Thousands of Florida families were also caught in gridlock across the state and up the East Coast into the Carolinas and Georgia on Thursday as they fled their homes

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