Hurricane Irma could create one of the largest mass evacuations in U.S. history

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Florida Governor Rick Scott urged people on Wednesday to move quickly if they plan on evacuating ahead of Hurricane Irma, currently a Category 5 storm wreaking havoc in the Caribbean.

Irma's current projected path as of 8 a.m. could put it on a collision course with South Florida over the weekend and create one of the largest mass evacuations in U.S. history causing major traffic gridlock around the state. 

LIVE INTERACTIVE:Florida gridlock guide with cameras

"Do not sit and wait for this storm to come," Scott said. "Get out now."

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are home to approximately six million people.

Irma claimed the lives of at least 10 people across the Caribbean as the powerful storm's 185-mph winds swept past Puerto Rico toward the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Monroe County evacuated 31,000 people as of 6 p.m. Wednesday while Miami Mayor Carlos Gimenez ordered more than 100,000 Miami-Dade residents to evacuate their homes on barrier islands like Miami Beach and low-lying mainland areas starting Thursday morning. Broward County issued a mandatory evacuation for areas east of Federal Highway on Wednesday

"Evacuation orders are going to be given in a timely manner so people have time to evacuate," Scott said. "But if you wait, that's when the problems are going to happen."

More:Hurricane Irma update: Hurricane Watch in effect for Bonita Beach southward to Florida Keys

Brevard County Emergency Management officials ordered more than 100,000 residents living on Merritt Island and along the coastal areas to leave their residences and condominiums and evacuate in preparation for Hurricane Irma’s arrival over the weekend. 

The evacuations were set to begin 3 p.m. Friday, giving residents 24 hours to prepare ahead of Irma's anticipated arrival.

In Lee County, evacuations were planned for Friday for barrier islands including Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island, which have a combined population of 24,500 people. Those living in mobile or manufactured homes are under evacuation, which includes 60,900 people.

The evacuation orders are the largest since Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

With just two primary highways going north — I-95 along the east coast and I-75 near the west coast — could face tremendous gridlock if the storm hits the peninsula. The Florida Turnpike as well as US-27 and other smaller roads could have similar fates.

The flow of I-75 through Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties showed fast and smooth on Thursday morning but farther north, past the Tampa area, portions were clogged and slow moving due to residents heading away from potential Hurricane Irma damage.

According to the Florida 511 web site and confirmed by Florida Highway Patrol Troop F spokesman Lt. Greg Bueno, Southwest Florida's portion of the freeway is running as usual for a weekday.

"Flowing well, no crashes," Bueno reported.

However, an alert issued by the state said motorists could expect delays on I-75 northbound in Sumter and Marion counties approaching Florida's Turnpike through just outside of Ocala.

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As of noon, The Miami Herald reported several stretches of the Florida Turnpike and I-95 were jammed, particularly in Palm Beach County and northward.

An abandoned boat and trailer on Interstate 95 backed up northbound traffic on Wednesday in Indian River County.

Officials are striving to keep disabled and abandoned vehicles from becoming a problem.

Any abandoned vehicles  will be towed off the Turnpike, according to the FHP.  Plans are being made to do the same thing with any vehicles abandoned on I-95.

"Don't call for someone to pick you up and leave your car there," said Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky.

"We want to keep the roadway clear for emergency vehicles to get in," he said Thursday morning.

More: Hurricane Irma: Storm now at 180 mph, moves away from Puerto Rico

Thursday morning, traffic was heavy but moving smoothly, Wysocky said. There are occasional backups, such as around Lake Worth.

On I-95 traffic also is moving well, except for the backup north of Vero Beach. There is congestion around the I-95 interchange west of Sebastian because of motorists getting gasoline, Wysocky said.

Moving north, the interchange in Wildwood where the Turnpike ends and intersects with I-75  is flooded with evacuating residents, according to various reports

 All tolls have been suspended throughout the state because of the impending storm.

Governor Rick Scott also activated a transportation hotline, 1-800-955-5504.