Tampa. The hurricane Milton It was moving toward a potentially catastrophic collision Wednesday along Florida‘s west coast, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions of people were ordered to evacuate and authorities warned that stragglers would have little chance of survival.
The Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, faced the possibility of widespread destruction after more than a century without receiving a direct hit from a category three or higher hurricane. Milton It fluctuated between categories four and five as it approached, but regardless of the difference in wind speed, the National Hurricane Center said it would be an extremely dangerous storm when its center makes landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. .
“Milton “It has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record in west-central Florida,” the hurricane center warned.
Early Wednesday, the system was centered about 250 miles southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour, according to the hurricane center. It was moving northeast at 26 kilometers per hour and was expected to maintain that direction with an increase in its speed throughout the day, until touching down on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
Heavy precipitation was beginning to spread this morning across parts of southwest and west-central Florida ahead of the storm’s arrival, and the weather was expected to worsen along Florida’s entire Gulf Coast during the day. The forecasts were for between 15 and 31 centimeters of rain, which in some places could reach 46 centimeters, in central and northern Florida until this Thursday. That increased the risk of catastrophic, life-threatening flooding and moderate to severe river overflows. Several tornadoes were likely to occur in areas of central and southern Florida this Wednesday.
Forecasters expected the system to maintain hurricane strength as it passed through central Florida on Thursday on an easterly path toward the Atlantic Ocean. The exact route remained uncertain, and experts on Tuesday moved their estimate slightly south of Tampa.
Thousands of fleeing cars jammed Florida highways ahead of the storm, but time to evacuate was running out Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned that a 15-foot (4.5-meter) storm surge could swallow an entire home.
“So if you’re in there, that’s basically your coffin,” he said.
Milton advances towards populations still affected by the hurricane Helene two weeks ago, which flooded streets and homes in western Florida in a destructive path that left at least 230 dead in the southern United States.
In the coastal town of Punta Gorda, about 100 miles south of Tampa, streets remained flooded Tuesday with piles up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) high of soggy furniture, clothing, books, appliances and other trash that had been hauled out of damaged homes.
Many houses were empty, but accountant and art collector Scott Joiner was still on the second floor of the New Orleans-style home he built 17 years ago. Joiner said that when Helene passed and flooded the first floor of his house, there were bull sharks swimming in the flooded streets and a neighbor had to be rescued by canoe.
“Having water is a blessing,” Joiner said, “but it is very deadly.”
Joiner said he planned to go through another round and hold out there. Miltondespite the risk.
Authorities have issued evacuation orders for 11 Florida counties with a total population of 5.9 million people, according to US Census estimates.
Authorities have warned that anyone left behind should fend for themselves, as emergency workers are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.
In Riverview, south of Tampa, several drivers waiting in a long gas line Tuesday said they had no plans to evacuate.
“I think we’ll just stay, you know, ride it out,” said Martin Oakes, of nearby Apollo Beach. “We have blinds in place. The house is ready. So this is like the last piece of the puzzle.”
Milton will make landfall on an exposed and heavily developed coastline in Tampa, Florida, and hit a region that has not been directly hit by a hurricane in more than a century. Via Graphic News
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