Residents in Florida are preparing for the storm that's already claimed 25 lives in Haiti.
 
"I've lost everything. The water took it..." one survivor said.
 
In Cuba, towns were leveled and the storm badly battered the Bahamas overnight.
 
Matthew strengthened early Thursday as it crawled towards the U.S. with winds at more than 120 miles per hour. 
 
About 2 million people are being encouraged to flee before the storm arrives. Evacuations are already underway in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
 
"Get out now. It could be the decision between life and death," Florida Gov. Rick Scott warned residents. (Screengrab via CBN News)
 
South Carolina is expected to evacuate half a million people. Traffic there has been bumper to bumper as residents leave.
 
"We want you to evacuate. We do not want you to stay," Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen said.
 
Many riding out the storm are scrambling for supplies, food and bottled water.
 
"I've already been to three gas stations that have shut down because they're out of gas," one resident said. 
 
Another said, "Been waiting 30-40 minutes, just getting some plywood."
 
"We wanted to get batteries, but they're out of batteries," yet another resident remarked. (Screengrab via CBN News)
 
Matthew is also making for difficult travel. American Airlines has cancelled all flights into Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.
 
Storm preparations are being made up the East Coast to North Carolina.
 
"It's a huge waiting game because, as you can tell from the hurricane tracks, they've changed almost every single day this week, and they will continue to change until the storm either makes landfall, or goes back out to sea," one Red Cross representative said.
 
CBN's Operation Blessing is already on the ground in Columbia, South Carolina, and Ocala, Florida. Plans are underway to set up a mobile kitchen and help people with clean-up efforts after the storm passes.

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