Much of the state has yet to feel the full brunt of the storm as Irma barrelled across the Florida Keys on Sunday morning.
As 6.5 million residents were told to evacuate Florida - a third of the state - incredible footage has emerged of a flock of flamingos being led to safety at Busch Gardens theme park.
More than 25 years on from the famous photo of Hurricane Andrew, showing a flock of flamingos huddled together in the Miami Metrozoo bathrooms, a new video shows birds in 2017 being led to a safety shelter.
A worker from the African-themed animal park can be seen leading the obedient flamingos along a corridor towards a safety shelter as Hurricane Irma was making landfall.
Flamingos at Zoo Miami, are shown in a temporary enclosure in a hurricane resistant structure within the zoo, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 in Miami. Source: AAP
The wiry flamingos appear calm as they walk in a straight line down a corridor towards shelter, as part of a mass movement of animals towards safety.
The crew at Busch Gardens is in charge of looking after 12,000 animals and moving 300 species.
Another photo showed flamingos at Miami Zoo huddled together in a shelter.
In 1992, a famous photo emerged from Hurrcane Andrew of flamingos grouped toether in a bathroom for two days.
Flamingos take refuge in a bathroom at Miami-Metro Zoo September 14, 1999 as tropical-storm force winds from Hurricane Floyd approached the Miami area. Source: Hulton Archive
The trend continued in 1998 with Caribbean flamingos sheltered in the men's bathroom during Hurricane Georges and in 1999, during Hurriance Floyd.
Hurricane Irma hit Florida on Sunday with waves crashing over the seawall and high winds damaging homes and buildings.
The hurricane has since been downgraded to a Category 2, despite strong winds and heavy flooding.
