Record-setting flooding in Jacksonville area from Irma

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Photo: St. Johns County Fire Rescue 

Irma is causing record-setting flooding in Jacksonville, Florida, as it moves over the state Monday on its way to southern Georgia.

The National Weather Service in Jacksonville says storm surge flooding exceeds the record set in 1965 during Hurricane Dora. First responders also posted photos on Facebook showing storm damage in St. Johns County, just south of Jacksonville.

Authorities are told residents near the St. Johns River on Monday to leave quickly as floodwaters rise. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office warned people in evacuation zones A and B along the St. Johns River to "Get out NOW." They say river is at historic flood levels and likely to get worse at high tide on Monday. Rescue teams were ready to deploy. 

Photos form St. Johns County showed damaged homes, apartments and flooded streets. One shocking photo showed a low-slung home had fallen and was perched sideways on the side of a beachfront. Officials said large trees that have been downed by the storm are forcing them to take alternate routes to respond to 911 calls.

John Ward, the emergency operations manager of Clay County, said crews have pulled 46 people from flooded homes by early Monday and an undetermined number are still stranded as the area's creeks and ponds are getting record flooding. Ward says between 400 and 500 homes received severe flood damage but there have been no serious injuries or deaths.

Irma weakened to a tropical storm Monday morning, a day after hitting the state as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.

The Associated Press contributed to this report