Hurricane Milton: 20 images show residents flee as storm of the century barrels toward Florida as ‘time grows short’
Tme is growing short for Florida residents to escape the wrath of Hurricane Milton which is slated to make landfall in the Sunshine State on Tuesday night of Wednesday.
Time is growing short for Florida residents to escape the wrath of Hurricane Milton which is slated to make landfall in the Sunshine State on Tuesday night of Wednesday. The storm, which was upgraded to the deadly category on Monday, has left experts baffled over the speed.
Experts at the National Hurricane Center have predicted that an 8- to 12-foot storm surge from Milton is possible, as are several inches of rain and nasty winds that are now around 155 mph. Experts stated that the storm could be a Category 3 when it makes landfall meaning wind speeds of 111 mph to 129 mph. Despite going down two levels, the storm nevertheless poses “an extremely serious threat to Florida.”
On Sunday, Ron DeSantis extended his state of emergency to include 51 counties while adding that it was of utmost importance that cleaning crews get all the debris from Hurricane Helene picked up lest it become an added danger when the storm hits. “We don’t have time for bureaucracy and red tape,” DeSantis said. “We have to get the job done.” The Republican governor also told residents that they needed to be ready.
“You have time to prepare – all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” DeSantis advised. “If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.” He also warned that those who stay should be ready to face continued power outages and other disruptions.
Tampa Bay’s Mayor, Jane Castors, issued a dire warning just before the storm hit. “This is literally catastrophic, and I can say without dramatization whatsoever — if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re gonna die,” Castor told CNN. “Anyone who was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area has never seen anything like this.”
President Joe Biden has officially approved Florida’s State of Emergency declaration and the state’s representative Kathy Castor stated that the federal government has started mobilizing 7,000 federal workers to help with the distribution of supplies. According to Castor, this is the biggest federal mobilizations in the history of the US.
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1 of 20Sand bags are filled in preparation as Hurricane Milton churns in the Gulf of Mexico on October 07, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (
Image:Getty Images)
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2 of 20People fill bags with sand at a local park in preparation for Hurricane Milton (
Image:Getty Images)
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3 of 20Experts have been left baffled at the speed at which Hurricane Milton has gained strength (
Image:NOAA / SWNS)
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4 of 20According to experts, the hurricane is expected to pass right through Tampa Bay. (
Image:nhc.noaa.gov)
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5 of 20Thousands of people have sought the protection of hurricane shelter as time grows short (
Image:@WeatherNation/X)
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6 of 20The mass exodus comes after the Category 5 storm was upgraded Monday afternoon -
7 of 20Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor said that anyone who remains at will die. (
Image:Getty Images)
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8 of 20Contractors put plywood over windows at the El Encanto Building in the Ybor City section of Tampa ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall in the middle of this week (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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9 of 20The arrival of Milton comes nearly a week after the state was devastated by Hurricane Helene. (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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10 of 20Despite the dire warnings to seek shelter, many residents have stayed put. (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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11 of 20According to experts, the last time Tampa experienced a really bad hurricane was 1921, when the town was still growing. (
Image:AP)
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A message on boards put up over windows in Tampa ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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Hurricane Milton is an incredibly powerful tropical cyclone currently affecting the Yucatan Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico as well as Florida. (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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Evacuation routes have been clogged with people attempting to flee the incoming storm. (
Image:AP)
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Workers place sheets of wood over windows and glass doors to protect them from the strong winds (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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Governor Ron DeSantis has said that anyone staying should stockpile a week’s worth of food and water. (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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17 of 20An 8- to 12-foot storm surge from Milton is possible, as is several inches of rain and nasty winds that are now around 155 mph. (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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18 of 20People queue to buy groceries at a store ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival in Cancun, Quintana Roo State, Mexico (
Image:AFP via Getty Images)
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19 of 20Feeding off of the extremely warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico the storm went from a tropical storm to a Category 5 Hurricane in matter of days. (
Image:Getty Images)
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20 of 20Tampa’s Mayor said that people need to leave as soon as possible in order to reach shelters before the storm hits