Florida is bracing for another powerful storm as Hurricane Milton, now a Category 2 hurricane, heads toward the Gulf Coast.
The state, still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s destruction just 10 days ago, is preparing for its largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017.
As of late Sunday, according to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Milton was located approximately 765 miles west-southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph.
The storm is projected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane by Wednesday and will continue as a hurricane as it moves across central Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean.
Governor Ron DeSantis noted that preparations are in progress to protect residents, adding that the main focus is on clearing debris left behind by Hurricane Helene.
During a press conference at the state’s emergency operations center, DeSantis described the situation as “all hands on deck” to ensure the state’s readiness for Hurricane Milton.
“This storm has the potential to cause catastrophic damage, especially in areas like Tampa Bay, where millions of people could be affected by storm surges up to 10 feet,” DeSantis warned.
“We’re prepared for a major response, and we need everyone in the storm’s path to finalize their hurricane plans.”
The governor also recalled members of Florida’s State Guard, National Guard, Fish and Wildlife, Highway Patrol, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement who were deployed to assist in the recovery efforts for Helene in North Carolina and Tennessee.
High-water vehicles have been deployed to Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, and emergency flood protection systems are being distributed to hospitals, wastewater facilities, and pump stations in the region.
Kevin Guthrie, executive director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, explained that the state’s response team has been planning for scenarios like this for weeks, anticipating a potentially severe hurricane season.
“The State Emergency Response Team planning section has been working this particular scenario, as well as others, for at least two weeks now,” Guthrie said. “That’s what’s making us very effective in the response before hurricane season ever began. Our team knew to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”
Guthrie added that Florida’s Department of Emergency Management is considering various contingencies, including emergency fuel supplies and electric vehicle charging stations along evacuation routes, and identifying every potential housing location as a refuge of last resort for evacuees.
The state is bracing for what could be the largest evacuation in seven years, as Floridians in coastal and inland areas are urged to leave ahead of the storm.
The governor’s office has declared a state of emergency in 51 counties and ordered debris management sites and landfills in Helene-impacted areas to remain open 24 hours to expedite the cleanup process.
DeSantis urged residents to take the storm seriously, stating, “You could potentially save lives because this debris can fly and hit people.”
The evacuation comes as state and local officials continue to clear the remnants of Hurricane Helene from roads and properties.
Florida’s Department of Transportation is working with local entities to remove sand and debris throughout Pinellas County’s barrier islands.
More than 800 Florida National Guardsmen have been deployed for debris removal, primarily in Pinellas County, with the number set to increase to 4,000 as Hurricane Milton approaches.
Residents are advised to monitor local news and emergency channels for updates and prepare to evacuate if they are in the storm’s projected path.
With Milton’s expected landfall and trajectory, it could wreak havoc across the state’s central region, causing significant power outages, infrastructure damage, and dangerous flooding.
“Now is not the time to be complacent,” Guthrie warned. “Everyone needs to take this storm seriously and get ready now.”