Broken utility poles downed by strong wind gusts are seen as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday. Reuters
Hurricane Milton barreled toward Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, unleashing tornadoes and battering the region with intense rain and fierce winds. As it neared its projected landfall near Tampa Bay, the storm threatened to bring a potentially life-threatening surge of seawater, putting coastal communities on high alert for devastating flooding.
Millions of residents along a 483-kilometer stretch of coastline were under evacuation orders, just two weeks after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. As Hurricane Milton approached, authorities ramped up their warnings on Wednesday, sounding the alarm of worsening conditions as the storm’s expected midnight landfall inched closer. Urgency grew as communities braced for another potential disaster.
Michael Tylenda, visiting his son in Tampa, shared that he was taking the officials’ evacuation advice seriously and preparing to leave the area.
“If anybody knows anything about Florida, when you don’t evacuate when you’re ordered to, you can pretty much die,” Tylenda said. “The house can be replaced. The stuff can be replaced. It’s just better to get out of town.”
Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief, Sandra Tapfumaneyi, warned on CNN that those staying on the barrier islands south of Tampa were facing a grim reality, with the projected 10- to 15-foot storm surge likely to be fatal. “If you choose to stay, make sure you have a life preserver handy,” she cautioned, emphasizing the life-threatening danger ahead.
The storm was on a direct path to strike the densely populated Tampa Bay metropolitan area, home to over 3 million residents. As of 11 a.m. CDT (1600 GMT), the eye of the hurricane was positioned 306 kilometers southwest of Tampa, steadily closing in on the vulnerable region.
On Wednesday morning, the storm slightly weakened to a Category 4 hurricane, the second-highest classification, but the National Hurricane Center stressed it remained “an extremely dangerous major hurricane.” With maximum sustained winds of 233 kph, the storm continued to pose a serious threat to the region.
Debris from Hurricane Helene still lined the empty streets of Treasure Island, Florida, on Tuesday, awaiting removal, as captured by Reuters. Meanwhile, Hurricane Milton was expected to maintain its strength as it crossed the Florida peninsula, posing a significant storm surge threat not only to the Gulf Coast but also to the state’s Atlantic Coast. Although its wind speeds were projected to decrease, the storm was expanding, affecting a wider area with dangerous surges and high winds.
By early afternoon, the National Weather Service had confirmed at least five tornadoes touching down in South Florida. Meanwhile, all four bridges spanning Tampa Bay were closed ahead of the storm’s landfall, as reported by the Florida 511 website. In nearby St. Petersburg, the streets were eerily empty by midday Wednesday, with nearly everyone heeding evacuation orders and fleeing the area.
Most causeways connecting the Gulf barrier islands to the mainland were also closed, leaving those who chose to ride out the storm stranded despite urgent pleas from officials to evacuate.
In a Walmart parking lot in south St. Petersburg on Wednesday morning, Henry Henry sat in a black van, ready to shuttle evacuees to a shelter in Tampa ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival. However, no passengers arrived.
“I don’t think people are waiting until the last moment today,” Henry said, as rain pounded the shuttle’s roof. “Most folks have already evacuated. They’re not sticking around.”
In Orlando, many residents who had previously weathered hurricanes with confidence found themselves taking unusual precautions this time around. The rapid intensification of Hurricane Milton, coupled with urgent warnings from officials, prompted them to prepare more seriously for the storm’s potential impact on the inland city.
Jim Naginey, a 61-year-old homeless man who has lived in Orlando for nearly three decades, recounted how he had previously weathered hurricanes on the streets. However, this time he chose to seek shelter during Hurricane Milton, joining many others at Colonial High School. Families huddled on the gym floor, snacking on bananas and sandwiches while sipping water provided by Orange County.
Members of the Florida Army National Guard conducted checks for any remaining residents on Anna Maria Island, Florida, as part of their efforts to ensure safety in the wake of Hurricane Milton.
“This one feels different,” Naginey remarked. “After witnessing the devastation in North Carolina last week, it seems like unexpected disasters can strike anywhere, even in places that aren’t used to them. That’s why I chose to seek shelter here.”
During a White House briefing, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris urged residents to adhere to local officials’ safety recommendations. “It’s literally a matter of life and death,” Biden emphasized, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
EMERGENCY PREPAPATIONS
Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced that she would be traveling to Florida on Wednesday and would stay in the state after the storm to assist in coordinating recovery efforts.
FEMA has deployed millions of liters of water, countless meals, and other essential supplies and personnel to the area. Criswell assured that this additional aid would not compromise recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene. “I want people to hear from me directly: FEMA is ready,” she stated.
Trucks have been operating around the clock to clear the debris left by Hurricane Helene, as Governor DeSantis warned that Milton could transform it into dangerous projectiles.
According to Ryan Sweet, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, about 2.8% of the U.S. gross domestic product lies directly in Milton’s path. As a result, airlines and energy firms began to suspend their Florida operations in preparation for potential disruptions.
In anticipation of the storm, major Florida theme parks, including Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, announced closures for later on Wednesday. Additionally, mobile homes, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities faced mandatory evacuation orders.