Florida is preparing for the worst hurricane in the last 100 years. Milton is closing in on Florida’s Gulf Coast, leaving residents with just hours to evacuate or take shelter before the storm unleashes a threatening rise in sea levels, accompanied by gale-force winds and heavy rainfall, in an area that was hit by Cyclone Elin two weeks ago.
Americans are talking about a once-in-a-century phenomenon that they say will be far worse than Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed 11,274 people, and worse than Hurricane Katrina.
Millions of people along more than 300 miles (483 km) of coastline have been ordered to evacuate as authorities issue increasingly urgent warnings as extreme weather approaches.
With terrifying simulations, the US networks describe the destruction that the hurricane could cause in its passage: “Unfortunately, the water is expected to reach higher. In two meters. Cars are swept away, structures are destroyed. Look. Anything can exist in these waters. The scary scenario is that some areas could see 3 and 4 meters of water.”
According to experts, the outer zones of the hurricane have already begun to affect Florida and everyone is watching with bated breath what the next few hours will bring.
The latest information indicates that the hurricane is about 180 kilometers southwest of the city of Tampa, while tornadoes are hitting the area as the hurricane approaches Florida.
Multiple tornadoes have been spotted in South Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival ashore. The National Hurricane Center says Milton was “growing in size” as it approached the coast. It said “life threatening storm surge” and “damaging winds” were both still expected. pic.twitter.com/R6bM3zQugp
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 9, 2024
Dramatic are the estimates from the National Hurricane Center which indicate that Milton is “increasing in size” as it moves towards the west coast of Florida.
According to the latest forecast the hurricane will hit:
The city of Sarasota
Wednesday 15:00 – Thursday 15:00
Water height: 3 m – 4.5 m
Tampa
Wednesday 16:00 – Thursday 15:00
Water height: 2.5 m – 3.6 m
Ford Myers
Wednesday 16:00 – Thursday 15:00
Water height: 2.5 m – 3.6 m
Orlando
Wednesday 21:00 – Thursday 18:00
Watch his progress live
“I’m afraid we’ll have dead people”
Michalis Fragedis, a resident of the Tampa area, which according to estimates will be in the “eye of the cyclone”, spoke to MEGA about the latest developments in the area just before the “hurricane of the century” broke out.
“All the main streets were full, in order for us to leave. Most have left. The mayor has called both the police and the army to be on the lookout in case of looting, given that residents have left their homes.”
In fact, some have not been convinced to leave their homes, and as the Greek resident mentioned, among them is an aunt of Mr. Fragedis.
“I’m afraid that we will have dead people, and I’m more afraid for the elderly and the little children,” stressed Michalis Fragedis.
Up to the ceiling of the houses the water
“We were trying to explain to them that the water was going to come up to the ceiling of their house,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Berko.
“My job is to reassure people that they will be safe. But at a time like this, when this storm comes and you’re in an evacuation zone, I can’t reassure you that you’ll be safe. And also I can’t send my policemen out in these conditions to help you.”
Officers will take refuge in various locations when the storm hits and prepare for what’s to come. The first priority will be to assess the damage and if they need to rescue someone.
“Right after the storm we’ll be ready to go,” Chief Berko said. “We have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best and that’s what we’re doing.”
It is typical of the fact that in the field of the Tampa baseball team, the authorities have set up a center for ten thousand rescuers who will be called to help those who need it.
“If you don’t leave, you will die”
At the same time, officials including US President Joe Biden and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned citizens in evacuation zones to move away or risk death. In fact, Biden, along with US Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, are being briefed at the White House on hurricane preparations.
For his part, the Republican governor of the state of Florida, Ron DeSandis, warned again today that “this cyclone has a significant impact and will cause a lot of damage.”
According to him, trucks are running around the clock to clear the volumes of debris left behind by Cyclone Elin, before Milton could scatter them and risk causing injuries.
FEMA has flown millions of gallons of water, millions of meals and other supplies, and personnel into the region.
“I want the public to hear from me directly, FEMA is ready,” said Diane Griswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, adding that she will travel to Florida today.
About 2.8 percent of U.S. GDP is in Milton’s path, said Ryan Sweet, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. Airlines and energy companies have already suspended some of their operations in Florida.
Florida’s major theme parks are shutting down in anticipation of the storm, including Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld.
Traffic was snarled on roads leading out of Tampa yesterday, while about 17 percent of Florida’s nearly 8,000 gas stations ran out of fuel, according to the GasBuddy website.
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