Massive Flight Cancellations, Amtrak Service from New York to Florida Halted As Matthew Aims for East Coast

Thousands of flights into and out of Florida have been cancelled as Hurricane Matthew moves in on the Eastern coast of the state.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has completely closed in preparation for the storm, and Orlando International is expected to follow suit later Thursday evening. Other airports in the region, including Miami International and West Palm Beach International, have had hundreds of flight cancellations for Thursday and Friday.

Hurricane warnings have been issued in major cities such as Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida, while hurricane watches have been issued in Savannah, Georgia and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Additionally, Amtrak announced that it suspended all rail service to Florida in preparation for Hurricane Matthew making landfall in the United States.

The Silver Star 91 and 92, which operates between New York and Miami, as well as the Silver Meteor 97 and 98, which operates a Miami-New York City route, and the Auto Train 52 and 53, which serves from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida, will be cancelled Thursday and Friday.

Additionally, the Palmetto 89 and 90, which usually serves between New York and Savannah, will only operate between New York and Washington, D.C.

President Obama declared a state of emergency in Florida, and millions of people in the southeast region have been ordered to evacuate, including 1.5 million in Florida alone.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)