The potentially catastrophic hurricane Milton has been predicted to be a category 5 hurricane with 175 mile-per-hour winds, a drastic transition from its previously predicted category 2 just hours before. President Joe Biden warned Tuesday that Hurricane Milton could be one of the worst storms to hit Florida in a century and urged residents who have been advice to evacuate to get somewhere safe as soon as possible. “It’s a matter of life and death,” he said. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in parts of counties along Florida’s west coast and even Florida’s east coast, including in Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Volusia.
Experts are saying depending on where Hurricane Milton lands, the Tampa Bay area could be flooded with a huge storm surge − or it could have its bay sucked dry of water. The Tampa Bay is especially vulnerable considering its still recovering efforts from Hurricane Helene and already weak infrastructures. Nearly 700 flights have been canceled across the country on Tuesday and another 1,500 flights are canceled on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton closes in on Florida. The removal of debris from Hurricane Helene will continue until Hurricane Milton’s winds reach tropical storm strength in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said, noting that 663 total truckloads of debris have already removed. and efforts to make the state withhold Milton are high.
