FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —  Facts about the storm:

History

— Became a hurricane Thursday afternoon.

— Maximum sustained winds were 75 miles-per-hour Thursday at 3:58 p.m. EDT.

— Formed Wednesday over the Bahamas.

— Eleventh named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

— Began pelting South Florida with steady rains and gusty winds on Thursday.

Forecast (as of 3 p.m. EDT Thursday)

— Landfall expected in southeastern Florida late Thursday or early Friday.

— Expected to cross Florida and head into the Gulf of Mexico.

— Could dump 12 inches of rain in the state, maybe 15 to 20 inches in some spots.

— Would be the second hurricane to hit Florida this year, and sixth since Aug. 13, 2004.

— Centered about 35 miles east-northeast of Fort Lauderdale, 35 miles east-southeast of Boca Raton.

— Moving west at six miles-per-hour.

Preparations

— Port Everglades and the Port of Miami closed to vessel traffic.

— Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport scheduled to close at 7 pm EDT Thursday.

— Airports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale were open but dozens of flights were canceled.

— Public schools in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach closed Thursday and Friday.

— Broward Sheriff's Office and U-S Coast Guard activated an emergency flotilla to move large pleasure boats upriver.

— Miami-Dade and Broward drawbridges will be locked down for evacuating cars and for emergency vehicles.

— All divisions of the U-S Court for the Southern District of Florida closed at 1 pm EDT Thursday. Will remain closed Friday.

— White House says government will leap into action with help and resources as soon Katrina hits land.