Fearful residents flee Tampa Bay region as Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida coast

[june04]

As Florida braces for Hurricane Milton, residents in the Tampa Bay region hurried to evacuate on Tuesday, fearing a direct hit from the Category 5 storm. The hurricane, with winds of 165 mph (265 kph), could potentially be a once-in-a-century event for Tampa, a city that has avoided a major hurricane for generations. Preparations were frantic as crews worked to clear debris left by Hurricane Helene to prevent it from becoming dangerous projectiles in Milton's powerful winds.

Officials have urged residents to evacuate, especially in the 11 counties under mandatory orders, covering about 5.9 million people. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis assured that there would be sufficient gasoline for evacuees and emphasized that evacuating tens of miles, rather than hundreds, would be enough for safety.

The storm is expected to hit Wednesday night, with storm surges, intense winds, and possible tornadoes. Predictions of landfall have wavered slightly, but the entire region is expected to face severe impacts. While Tampa has not seen a direct hurricane hit since 1921, authorities fear that the city's luck may run out, and a 15-foot storm surge could cause catastrophic damage.

The National Hurricane Center warned that fluctuations in the storm's intensity are possible as it moves across the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which have fueled its rapid strengthening. President Joe Biden has declared an emergency for Florida, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has deployed nearly 900 staff members to the region, stocked with millions of meals and liters of water.

Many residents, recalling the devastation of recent hurricanes like Ian and Helene, are taking the warnings seriously. Traffic was heavy on evacuation routes, and fuel deliveries were being escorted by state troopers. However, some people, like those in Riverview and Ruskin, decided to stay, hoping their preparations would protect them.

Milton is the 13th named storm of this hurricane season, with climate change playing a significant role in the rapid intensification of storms like it and Helene. Florida’s west coast is under multiple warnings, and officials continue to urge residents to evacuate and prepare for what could be the worst hurricane to hit Florida in over a century.