Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declared that the 15 feet of storm surge forecast for her city would be deep enough to submerge entire houses and warned: 'So if you're in it, basically that's the coffin you're in'
Stubborn Floridians refusing to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton should write their name on their leg so authorities can identify their body, a police chief has warned.
Tokajer's remark doubles down on pleas from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who has urged locals to evacuate before the 15 feet of storm surge forecast to hit her city submerges entire properties. She has repeatedly warned those who are refusing to leave that they could die in their homes.The state is holding its breath as Milton barrels across the Gulf of Mexico and heads for the shoreline, with forecasters warning of the prospect of brutal floods and 165 miles-per-hour winds.
Unsettling clips taken early this morning also showed a huge lightning storm erupting off the coast of Key West.Vehicles move through a partially flooded street in Dunedin ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall tonight on October 9, 2024 Unsettling clips taken early this morning showed a huge lightning storm erupting off the coast of Key West
'Those of you who were punched during Hurricane Helene, this is going to be a knockout. You need to get out and you need to get out now.' Officials are warning that a direct hit from Hurricane Milton would bring far greater risks to this part of the state.The National Weather Service on Wednesday morning issued the watch, which includes a vast part of Florida, including the Tampa area, the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County.
The state is holding its breath as Hurricane Milton barrels across the Gulf of Mexico and heads for the shoreline, with forecasters warning of the prospect of 15-foot floods and 165 miles-per-hour winds One family attempts to prevent damage to their house by quite literally tying it to the ground ahead of the storm's arrival more videos Some 6 million people across the state are subject to a mandatory evacuation warning, many of whom decided to pack up and flee in their cars.
Officials warned that anyone who refuses to leave will be left without help as first responders are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm. Milton was initially set as a category one storm when forecasters first raised the alarm over the weekend after it battered Mexico with powerful gusts and floods.
Workers erect flood barriers outside Tampa General Hospital which is expected to bear the brunt of the storm Weather conditions were expected to start deteriorating rapidly in the afternoon before the storm makes landfall late tonight. That storm was the deadliest natural disaster to hit the United States since 2005's Hurricane Katrina - but many fear that Milton will be yet more destructive.
Governor Ron DeSantis said the state deployed over 300 dump trucks that had removed 1,300 loads of debris. A person walks in front of a restaurant surrounded by sand bags as the city prepares for Hurricane Milton in Bonita Beach, Florida Torrents of rain whipped by the windows as the scientists were tossed around in the cabin, such was the turbulence they faced.
Florida Governor DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration on Sunday to 51 counties and said Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruption, making sure they have a week's worth of food and water and are ready to hit the road. Ahead of expected landfall of Hurricane Milton, a heavy stream of evacuation traffic slowly moves southward from North-West Florida on Interstate 75, in in Naples, Florida
Two people ride their motorcycles on a flooded street after the passage of Hurricane Milton, in Celestun, Mexico, 08 October 2024Read More Incredible NASA time-lapse video taken from ABOVE the eye of monster Hurricane Milton The city of Naples will begin a 'vehicle curfew' starting at 4pm today; the island of Sanibel in Lee County will launch its curfew at 10pm today; and in Flagler County, a curfew will last at least 12 hours, from Wednesday at 7pm to Thursday at 7am.
But the warnings of Milton's destructive power have only grown more alarming over the course of the week with local officials scrambling to evacuate the population before the tempest hits Tampa and St Petersburg some time this evening. The state is holding its breath as category-5 Hurricane Milton is set to devastate the Tampa region tomorrow with 15-foot floods and 165miles per hour winds laying waste to the city
Normally she would ride out the storm at a friend's elevated apartment, 'but I'm not taking any chances this time around,' she said. 'I highly encourage you to evacuate' if you're in an evacuation zone, said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, yesterday. 'We are preparing... for the largest evacuation that we have seen, most likely since 2017, Hurricane Irma.
'Pray for Orlando' reads on wood that was placed at a Home Depot before the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Orlando, Florida Read More Brits are warned to stay at home by angry Florida residents as Hurricane Milton threatens the US Home owners are already on the guard against thieves - with one sign in New Port Richey, just north of Tampa on Florida's Gulf Coast, emblazoned with: 'You loot, we shoot on sight'.
However, Governor Ron DeSantis assured residents that there's enough fuel for them to get away from the storm.A member of the Mexican army stands in floodwaters after Hurricane Milton brought heavy rain to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on its way to Florida, in Celestun, Mexico Boats are secured in the overflow of a river after Hurricane Milton hit Celestun, Mexico with heavy rain on its way to Florida
Read More Moment people have to be airlifted off cruise ship stuck off coast of Florida as hurricane sweeps in Commentating on the impending disaster, she said: 'At this level the first floors of structures are completely flooded and there are few places that it is safe when the water rises this high.
'This thing will carry you away, especially when we've got the forecast that it could go up to 15 feet.'A threatening sign warns looters on a garage door taped with plastic and sand bags in preparation for Hurricane Milton A contractor walks by debris left by Hurricane Helene along the roadside, as residents prepare to evacuate ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in New Port Richey, Florida
The concerned mother added that her son's community was also among those flooded by Hurricane Helene last week.But DeSantis tried to ease fears yesterday morning, saying during a press conference: 'There is no fuel shortage. Fuel continues to arrive in the state of Florida.' Scott Pepperman , and his son Cobi move a trailer while preparing to evacuate from their home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in New Port Richey, FloridaVehicles fill the road as they drive to the East on I-75 from the West coast of Florida before the arrival of Hurricane Milton in Big Cypress, FloridaDespite the long lines at gas stations, DeSantis said officials are working with fuel companies to continue bringing in gasoline.
'I've had two people in the last HOUR tell me they can't afford to evacuate for Hurricane Milton. Never tell me low wages aren't violent ever again,' one user on X posted yesterday.'I live in Sarasota, which is in the direct path of Hurricane Milton. They are evacuating my town, but there is no gas left to evacuate, and traffic is so bad that it could be more dangerous to try and evacuate at this point.
Tampa's airport closed indefinitely from 9am Tuesday, meaning residents can no longer evacuate by plane. The airport posted on X that it is not a shelter for people or their cars. Florida is a popular destination for UK tourists, with over a million typically travelling there annual for attractions including Disney World.
The Orlando area is the most visited destination in the United States due to Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and other theme parks, attracting 74 million tourists last year alone.
News Florida Hurricane Milton Mexico
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Eerie hurricane simulation hitting Tampa - as city braces for MiltonProject Phoenix combined simulated weather reports and archived video footage from other storms to emphasize the danger of a potential Category 5 hitting the area directly.
Read more »
Roof ripped off Tampa Bay baseball stadium as Hurricane Milton tears through FloridaDramatic footage shows extensive damage to the roof of the Tropicana Field Stadium in Tampa, as Hurricane Milton ripped through Florida on Thursday morning.
Read more »
Chevron Shuts Down Tampa Terminal As Hurricane Milton ApproachesChevron Corp. has shut down its Tampa bulk terminal as Hurricane Milton barrels towards the U.S. coastline
Read more »
Eerie hurricane simulation hitting Tampa - as city braces for MiltonProject Phoenix combined simulated weather reports and archived video footage from other storms to emphasize the danger of a potential Category 5 hitting the area directly.
Read more »
Kinder Morgan Shuts Tampa Terminals Ahead of Hurricane MiltonKinder Morgan has shut down its terminals in Tampa as Hurricane Milton intensifies, threatening Florida with a devastating landfall.
Read more »
Why Tampa Is Especially Vulnerable to Hurricane MiltonThe National Weather Service warns Milton could be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in more than a century
Read more »