Florida is bracing for its largest evacuation since 2017 as Hurricane Milton intensifies into a Category 4 storm. Expected to make landfall midweek, this massive hurricane has prompted officials to urge millions of residents to evacuate, especially from the heavily populated Gulf Coast. Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency across 51 counties as the storm rapidly strengthened from a tropical storm over the weekend.
Milton's intensification has been swift and alarming. It first became a hurricane on Sunday and rapidly escalated to Category 3, with winds exceeding 125 mph. Forecasters now predict the storm will hit Category 4 strength, bringing life-threatening storm surges and damaging winds to already vulnerable regions. This follows closely on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of northern Florida just two weeks ago, leaving over 200 dead and causing widespread destruction.
BREAKING: The storm surge for Hurricane Milton is expected to be 15 feet.
To give you an idea of how deadly this is, here's what 9 feet looks like:pic.twitter.com/0SxfrA9XK3 https://t.co/56ZLtpOIbi
— Financelot (@FinanceLancelot) October 8, 2024
The Tampa Bay area is in Milton’s direct path, where officials are scrambling to enforce mandatory evacuations. Residents in evacuation zones have been urged to move inland or head north. Florida’s Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie warned that the storm’s erratic movement and its potential to bring catastrophic floods, particularly in low-lying areas, make immediate action necessary.
Emergency workers who were recently deployed to assist with Hurricane Helene’s recovery efforts have been recalled, and shelters are quickly being set up throughout the state. Governor DeSantis emphasized the unique challenge posed by Milton, noting that the debris left by Helene could dramatically increase the damage caused by the upcoming storm.
Hurricane Milton may cause 15-foot storm surges in Tampa. This is what a 15-foot surge looked like in Fort Myers during Hurricane Ian two years ago (via MesoMax919). Stay safe:pic.twitter.com/giWUrkbeH3
— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) October 8, 2024
In preparation for Milton's landfall, Florida is ramping up its resources. The state has activated all available National Guard units and is coordinating with federal agencies to ensure supplies, equipment, and rescue teams are pre-positioned. President Biden has been briefed on the storm's severity and has promised federal support, urging Floridians to follow evacuation orders closely.
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County warned residents that Milton could be a "once-in-a-lifetime storm." His stark message, “This is going to be bad,” has echoed across the state as residents are asked to flee areas that could experience record-breaking storm surges. Those staying behind risk being cut off from emergency services as power outages, flooding, and debris blockages are almost certain in many communities.
Florida’s infrastructure is already under strain after Helene, and Milton’s approach has triggered a wave of urgency not seen since Hurricane Irma in 2017, which led to the evacuation of over 6 million people. While exact numbers for this evacuation haven’t been finalized, emergency officials estimate this could surpass the historic Irma evacuation.
Florida's Emergency Operations Center has been in full swing since Sunday, and officials are working with neighboring states to coordinate transportation for those without means to evacuate on their own. Meanwhile, airlines and bus companies have been adding extra routes to help move people out of harm's way.
