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Florida is bracing for its largest evacuation since 2017 as Hurricane Milton intensifies in the Gulf of Mexico, with forecasts predicting it will make landfall as a major hurricane near the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday. This comes in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which already devastated parts of the state in late September.
Hurricane Milton, now a Category 1 storm with winds of 85 mph, is expected to strengthen further, possibly reaching Category 4 status. Florida’s emergency management director, Kevin Guthrie, has urged residents to prepare for widespread evacuations, especially in vulnerable areas along the western coast. Officials warn that Milton could exacerbate the damage caused by Helene, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis highlighting the risk of storm surges and debris-related destruction.
Pinellas County, which includes St. Petersburg, is preparing for mandatory evacuations affecting over 500,000 residents, along with the evacuation of hospitals and care facilities. Local authorities are also stressing the importance of heeding evacuation orders, noting that many ignored them during Hurricane Helene, which resulted in multiple deaths and overwhelming emergency services.
The region is still recovering from Helene, which caused catastrophic damage across several southern states and claimed over 200 lives, making it one of the deadliest storms to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Recovery efforts from Helene continue, with federal support, including 1,500 active-duty troops, and financial assistance totaling $137 million.
With the landfall of Hurricane Milton looming, Florida is on high alert, and authorities are mobilizing resources to prepare for what could be another devastating storm.
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