On Monday (Oct. 7), Hurricane Milton strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico. Now, the Category 5 natural disaster is headed towards Florida.
Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, ordered the evacuation of areas near Tampa Bay and all mobile and manufactured homes by Tuesday night. According to the Associated Press, Hurricane Milton could cause a dangerous storm surge in Tampa Bay. Additionally, it is setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.
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What To Know About Hurricane Milton
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has provided more insight into the hurricane’s progression. According to the NHC, Milton intensified quickly Monday and had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. At midday Monday, the storm’s center was about 130 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 720 miles southwest of Tampa. At the time, it was moving east-southeast at 9 mph.
Its center could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area. Forecasters warned of a possible 8- to 12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay. Flash and river flooding could result from five to 10 inches of rain in mainland Florida and the Keys, with as much as 15 inches in places.
Moreover, Hurricane Milton could remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean. If it takes that path, it would largely spare other states hit hard by Helene. To date, the storm has reportedly killed at least 230 people on its path from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains.
Here’s How Florida Is Preparing
As mentioned, the Tampa Bay area is still rebounding from Helene and its powerful surge. Twelve people died, with the worst damage along a string of barrier islands from St. Petersburg to Clearwater.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that it was essential that the state clear messes from Helene ahead of Milton’s arrival so they don’t become projectiles. More than 300 vehicles picked up debris Sunday but encountered a locked landfill gate when they tried to drop it off. State troopers used a rope tied to a pickup truck and busted it open. “We don’t have time for bureaucracy and red tape,” DeSantis said.
Meanwhile, schools, including the University of Central Florida in Orlando, announced they would close midweek. Walt Disney World said it was monitoring the hurricane but operating normally for the time being.
All road tolls were suspended in western central Florida. The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport said it would close after the last flight Tuesday, and Tampa International Airport said it planned to halt airline and cargo flights starting Tuesday morning.
Officials in Tampa freed all city garages to residents hoping to protect their cars from flooding, including electric vehicles. The vehicles must be left on the third floor or higher in each garage.
More Details On Hurricane Milton Evacuations
About 7 million people were urged to evacuate Florida in 2017 as Hurricane Irma bore down. However, the result was jammed-up freeways, long gas station lines, and vows from Florida residents not to follow evacuation orders in the future.
Building on lessons learned during Irma and other previous storms, Florida is staging emergency fuel for gas vehicles and charging stations for electric vehicles along evacuation routes.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Kevin Guthrie said the state has learned from its past with storms. Now, they’re preparing to stage emergency fuel and charging stations for cars along evacuation routes. “We are preparing … for the largest evacuation that we have seen, most likely since 2017, Hurricane Irma,” Guthrie said.
Tampa Bay Sheriff Chad Chronister agreed that the evacuations “stink” but assured residents that safeguarding their families would keep them alive. Meanwhile, Hillsborough Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty highlighted the risk residents put emergency responders in when they don’t evacuate. “If you remain there, you could die, and my men and women could die trying to rescue you. Help them by leaving,” Chief Dougherty said.
DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration Sunday to 51 counties and said Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruption from Hurricane Milton. He also said they should make sure they have a week’s worth of food and water and are ready to hit the road.
Florida’s Recent History With Hurricanes
It has been two decades since so many storms crisscrossed Florida in such a short period of time. In 2004, an unprecedented five storms struck Florida within six weeks, including three hurricanes that pummeled central Florida.
Although Tampa hasn’t been hit directly by a hurricane in over a century, other parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast are recovering from such storms in the past two years. The Fort Myers area in southwest Florida is still rebuilding from Hurricane Ian, which caused $112 billion in damage in 2022. Three hurricanes have thrashed Florida’s Big Bend region in just 13 months, including Helene.
RELATED: Couple Killed By Fallen Tree During Hurricane Helene Found Hugging Inside Home
Associated Press reporters Mike Schneider, Haven Daley, Jeff Martin, and Freida Frisaro contributed to this report.
