AFP / ERIC PIERMONT
As Florida prepares for the impact of Hurricane Ian, Amazon (AMZN), among other businesses, is temporarily closing its doors in parts of the state.
The e-commerce giant has planned warehouse closures near Tampa and Orlando – the path of Ian – according to employee notices obtained by CNBC. The facility closures are expected to last until Friday, the news outlet reported.
Amazon spokesperson Richard Rocha told CNBC that the company is “closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Ian and making adjustments to our operations in order to keep our employees and those delivering for us safe.”
“We’re in regular contact with our employees and delivery partners to ensure everyone is aware of any site closures or unsafe conditions and will continue to make adjustments as needed,” he added.
Amazon joins a number of other companies that are temporarily shuttering in Florida due to the approaching hurricane. Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios have also closed, along with airports in Orlando and Tampa.
The National Hurricane Center updated its storm warning for the state, saying that a “life-threatening storm surge” is expected along the Florida west coast and Lower Florida Keys, adding that the highest risk resides from Naples to the Sarasota region.
The weather agency upgraded the hurricane to a Category 4 storm early Wednesday morning, with wind speeds expected to reach 140 miles per hour as the storm strengthens with landfall in Florida. About 2.5 million Floridians have been ordered to evacuate the state ahead of Ian hitting.
The hurricane battered Cuba early Tuesday morning, knocking out power across the country.
As of Wednesday premarket hours, shares of Amazon were trading at $113.24, down $1.17 or 1.02%.
