Strong winds, heavy rain pound Daytona Beach

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By Ryan HughesDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) – Conditions in Daytona Beach are going downhill fast, as Hurricane Matthew approaches the Volusia County coastline.  Strong winds and heavy rain are hampering the area as dawn breaks.

Businesses along the main thoroughfare, International Speedway Boulevard, are closed and boarded up. The roads are desolate.

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Hotels and motels have no occupancy. At the Quality Inn, workers said all 64 rooms are filled.  Eight are reserved for Florida Power and Light workers in case they have to head to the area to deal with utility issues.

More than 25,000 customers are in the dark in Volusia County, according to FP&L and Duke Energy.

A WFLA crew drove 180 miles on I-95 from West Palm Beach to Daytona Beach. Conditions on the highway were treacherous.

They faced downed limbs and standing water.  Not one car passed them as they drove from the south to Volusia County.