Floridians brace for category 5 hurricane Milton: evacuations intensify
As Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, approached the Gulf Coast, residents faced a critical deadline on Wednesday to evacuate or seek shelter. With over 1 million people in coastal regions under evacuation orders, highways became congested, and gas stations reported fuel shortages, adding to the anxiety in a state still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s recent devastation.
Milton is on a path toward the Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3 million residents. Forecasters warn that while the exact landfall location is uncertain, the storm is expected to hit late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, bringing a potentially lethal storm surge of 10 feet or more to coastal communities.
Authorities, including President Joe Biden and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, emphasized the urgency of evacuation for those in affected zones. “If you’re told to evacuate, do not take that lightly,” warned Castor.
Michael Tylenda, visiting his son in Tampa, echoed the seriousness of the situation. “You can pretty much die if you don’t evacuate,” he said, recalling past tragedies where residents who stayed behind faced dire consequences. “The house can be replaced. The stuff can be replaced. It’s just better to get out of town.”
Milton intensified rapidly, becoming the third-fastest storm on record in the Atlantic, escalating from a Category 1 to a Category 5 in less than 24 hours. Climate scientist Daniel Gilford noted that warmer sea surface temperatures, exacerbated by climate change, contributed to this rapid intensification.
As of 10 p.m. CDT, the eye of the storm was located 405 miles southwest of Tampa, moving northeast at 12 mph. While there is a possibility that wind speeds could drop, the expanding size of the storm poses a significant risk across Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts.
Economic implications are significant, with approximately 2.8% of the U.S. GDP in Milton’s projected path. Major corporations, including airlines and energy firms, began suspending operations in Florida in anticipation of the storm’s impact.
Mandatory evacuation orders affected over a dozen counties, including Hillsborough and Pinellas, which alone ordered evacuations for more than 500,000 residents. Mobile homes and assisted living facilities were also prioritized for evacuation.
In Fort Myers, Jamie Watts, displaced by Hurricane Ian in 2022, chose to stay in a hotel this time, reflecting on the harrowing experience of his previous evacuation. “I’m going to be a little safer,” he stated, emphasizing the need for precaution.
As evacuation efforts continue, traffic jams plagued highways leading out of Tampa. By Tuesday, 17% of Florida’s nearly 8,000 gas stations had run dry, further complicating the evacuation process.
With the storm barreling toward land, Floridians are urged to remain vigilant, prioritize safety, and heed evacuation orders as Hurricane Milton threatens to leave a lasting mark on the Gulf Coast.
