Floridians were under urgent warnings to start their largest evacuation in nearly a decade as Hurricane Milton rapidly grew to a “life-threatening” Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds Monday, placing hundreds of thousands of residents still recovering from Helene at risk.
Milton is projected to make landfall Wednesday as a major hurricane, likely hitting near the heavily populated Tampa Bay area, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Storm surge and hurricane watches were issued for Florida’s Gulf Coast as Milton “rapidly intensified” into a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, the hurricane center said.
Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida’s emergency management division, urged residents to be prepared for the “largest evacuation that we have seen most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma.”
“I highly encourage you to evacuate,” Guthrie said during a press conference.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also said that while it remains to be seen where Milton will strike, it’s clear the state is going to be hit hard.
“You have time to prepare … be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” DeSantis said Sunday.
“If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”
Even before Milton was upgraded Monday, it posed “an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge from Milton for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning Tuesday night or early Wednesday,” the hurricane center had warned.
“Residents should follow any advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so,” the federal agency warned.
With Post wires
Read the full article here
