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Evacuation orders fall flat as some choose to 'ride out' Hurricane Matthew

A man walks near the Cocoa Beach Pier as Hurricane Matthew approaches, October 6, 2016 on Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Mark Wilson | Getty Images

Some people are hunkering down to weather out Hurricane Matthew in evacuation areas despite numerous warnings from officials and experts to do the opposite.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott begged residents and visitors to evacuate at a news conference on Thursday.

"This storm will kill you," he said.

Robert Matthew Van Winkle, better known as "Vanilla Ice" tweeted that he is going to "ride it out."

@vanillaice: This hurricane is going to be serious, and it's coming right at me. I am going to ride it out.

The evacuation warnings fell deaf on the ears of Robert and Georgette Tyler, NBC Miami reported. The two plan to wait out the storm in their rental home in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

"It's part of Florida life I guess, especially on the coast," Robert Tyler told NBC Miami.

But people who don't evacuate are putting themselves at risk as first responders may not be able to reach them for days after the storm, Georgia Emergency Management Homeland Security tweeted.

@GeorgiaEMA: Stay or go? Dangerous conditions could prevent first responders from getting to you for up to 72 hours after #HurricaneMatthew passes.

Gov. Scott echoed those comments and asked people to encourage their friends and family to follow the mandatory evacuation.

"Stop and think about this. We should not be putting people's lives at risk because you made the foolish decision to not evacuate," he said.

Gov. Scott: If you're in evacuation zone, get out now
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Gov. Scott: If you're in evacuation zone, get out now

Hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross expressed his concern on The Weather Channel about those choosing not to relocate to designated shelters and called that decision a "mistake."

"If you live in a Florida evacuation zone, you need to head to a safe spot now. Do not assume you can survive if you choose to stay," he said.

@weatherchannel: #Hurricane #Matthew could have catastrophic impacts. Heed this important message from @TWCBryan if you're in the storm's path. #FLwx