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Evacuate or Stay? Hurricane Milton Leaves Floridians With Tough Decisions

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NASA

Hurricane Milton, a powerful and dangerous Category 3 storm, is barreling toward the Florida coast, bringing torrential rain, tornadoes, and strong winds. As the storm closes in, residents in evacuation zones rush to flee, but many now find themselves trapped, with little time left to escape.

The National Hurricane Center cautioned that predicting Milton’s exact landfall is difficult due to the storm’s unpredictable path. Still, it warned that the entire Tampa Bay and southern regions are at serious risk. Significant damage is expected to follow, with tropical storm-force winds already hitting the Florida coast.

Pinellas County’s emergency management director, Kathy Perkins, warned, “For those of you hit by Hurricane Helene, this will be a knockout.” In some areas, however, authorities have determined it is too late to evacuate. Residents are being advised to stay indoors and ride out the storm. Polk County’s emergency management director, Paul Womble, urged people to seek safety wherever they are, as rescue teams cannot respond during the storm.

Milton is expected to make landfall as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, threatening densely populated areas, including Orlando. Tampa Bay hasn’t experienced a direct hit from a hurricane in over a century and is preparing for potentially catastrophic impacts.

Western Florida, still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s devastation just two weeks ago, is bracing for more destruction. Helene claimed over 230 lives across the southern U.S., and debris from that storm still litters many areas. Authorities are concerned that Hurricane Milton could sweep away this debris, compounding the damage.

Forecasters predict storm surges up to 12 feet (3.6 meters) in Tampa Bay and as high as 13 feet (4 meters) in Sarasota and Fort Myers, raising fears of widespread coastal flooding. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge and other key bridges have already been closed as a precaution.

Ken Graham, director of the National Weather Service, urged residents to evacuate immediately, emphasizing that while the countdown had passed, the situation had reached a critical point as alarms were now sounding. During a forecast for NBC Miami, Meteorologist John Morales became emotional when describing the hurricane’s intensity, highlighting that the storm’s pressure had dropped by 50 millibars in just ten hours. Visibly shaken, he apologized, calling the situation “horrific.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued a stark warning, saying, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die.”

NBC Miami weather forecast

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that over 50,000 power restoration personnel, including 9,000 members of the Florida National Guard, have been deployed, with additional support from neighboring states. He also assured residents that the highway patrol is escorting gasoline tankers to ensure fuel supplies throughout the state.

Evacuation orders have been issued for about 7.2 million residents across 15 counties along Florida’s western coast. Authorities have warned that once the storm hits, rescue teams may not be able to respond, and residents should prepare to fend for themselves.

When it was located 31 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of Sarasota, Hurricane Milton was packing winds of 121 mph (195 km/h) and moving northeast at 17 mph (28 km/h). Heavy rains and strong winds are already battering southern Florida, with some areas expecting more than 18 inches (46 centimeters) of rain, raising fears of major flooding.

Early reports from southern Florida indicate that Milton’s winds have caused structural damage, including at a gas station. At the same time, a tornado uprooted trees and knocked over light poles in other areas. Flights have been canceled, and Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando operations have been suspended.

Experts fear that Hurricane Milton could cause devastation comparable to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with widespread damage expected across Florida.

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