Hurricane Milton Nears, Florida Residents on Alert
Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a “highly dangerous” category 4 storm as it moves toward the US Gulf Coast, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.
The hurricane is predicted to bring strong winds and storm surges as it approaches Florida, where it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday after passing over Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Floridians have been urged to prepare for the state’s largest evacuation in years, with Governor Ron DeSantis warning that the storm could cause “significant impacts.”
These warnings come just 10 days after Hurricane Helene, the deadliest mainland storm since Katrina in 2005, ravaged the US Southeast, killing at least 225 people, with hundreds still missing. At least 14 people have died in Florida, where 51 of the state’s 67 counties are currently under emergency warnings as Milton approaches.
As of Monday morning, Milton was sustaining wind speeds of approximately 150 mph (240 km/h), according to the National Hurricane Centre (NHC). The storm is expected to make landfall near Tampa Bay on Wednesday and will then move northeast, crossing the Florida peninsula as it heads toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Ahead of landfall, the NHC warned that torrential rain and flash flooding could impact parts of Florida starting Monday. Life-threatening storm surges and damaging winds are also possible along the state’s west coast from late Tuesday into early Wednesday. Rainfall could reach localised totals of up to 15 inches (38 cm), and coastal areas might experience storm surges between 5 and 10 feet (1.5 and 3.5 meters).
Residents across Florida have begun preparing for the storm. In southern parts of the state, people have been filling sandbags at distribution sites, and long lines of cars have formed at petrol stations. The warnings from the National Hurricane Centre have been echoed by state officials. On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned residents that the storm is expected to exit the state without weakening and will remain a hurricane. “It will stay a hurricane to some extent all the way until it exits Florida’s east coast,” he said.
Kevin Guthrie, the head of Florida’s emergency management division, urged residents to prepare for what could be the largest evacuation since Hurricane Maria in 2017, which claimed dozens of lives. Governor DeSantis, who has issued 51 emergency warnings for the state, stated that efforts were being made to restore power and clear roads but warned of potential disruptions when the storm, Milton, makes landfall.
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He advised Floridians to have a “preparedness plan” in place, noting that both mandatory and voluntary evacuations would be ordered. “I can’t imagine a scenario where we don’t see major impacts,” he added. Many evacuations are expected in Pinellas County, where Hurricane Helene previously claimed the lives of at least a dozen people.
The arrival of the new hurricane coincides with warnings from the US government that recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene could take years. Hundreds of roads in the affected areas remain closed, hindering the delivery of aid to the hardest-hit communities.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September as a category four storm, causing extensive structural damage, flash floods, and widespread power outages affecting millions of homes. Deaths were reported not only in Florida but also in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, with North Carolina being the most severely impacted.
In response, President Joe Biden has ordered the deployment of an additional 500 soldiers to North Carolina, bringing the total to 1,500 troops. These soldiers will work alongside thousands of government relief workers and National Guard members. So far, Biden has approved nearly $140 million (£107 million) in federal aid. However, the use of these funds has become the target of false claims by Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for next month’s presidential election, who alleged that the relief money was diverted to migrants.
The head of the US disaster relief agency has condemned Trump’s statements as “dangerous” misinformation.
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Content Credit| Igbakuma Rita Doom
Picture Credit | https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-hurricane-milton-strengthens-category-4-florida-prepares-114563120
