Russ - for sure. If the storm goes back out to sea, that will be very bad news for South Carolina.

If the storm makes landfall between the Keys and Miami, and goes up the center of Florida - then it looks like Hurricane force winds will hit many east coast cities ... all the way from the Keys to West Palm Beach (maybe Cape Canaveral).

BUT - there is also a chance this storm could veer to the west. In which case Fort Myers and Tampa will take the real punishment.

Just the same, Miami was really smart to order a major evacuation.
There is going to be so much rain in southern Florida - the whole place will turn into the Everglades. The commentary from the Air Force Reserve - "a spectacular storm" - really says it all. They flew through the storm, so they should know.

MEANWHILE ...
there are uncertainties about the true arrival time of Irma.
At 11am Eastern time Friday, Irma was 405 miles southeast of Miami and moving at 14 mph. Therefore, landfall in less than 36 hours. Meaning the hurricane could come ashore on Sat evening or midnight. There are uncertainties in the path and speed of the storm, as it makes the "turn" northwards.

The National Weather Service is saying that in lowland areas of southern Florida, people might not be able to return to their homes for weeks or months. Areas will be uninhabitable.