Florida residents are in a race against time as Hurricane Milton, a devastating category five storm with winds reaching up to 165 mph, closes in on the Tampa Bay area. Less than two weeks after the destruction of Hurricane Helene, the state is once again on high alert. President Joe Biden has urged people to evacuate, warning that staying could be a “matter of life and death.”
In one of the largest evacuation efforts in recent history, millions of residents are fleeing the storm’s path. Florida’s Gulf Coast residents, like Gerald Lemus from Bradenton, are leaving for safety, many for the first time. “This will be a life-changing storm,” Lemus said, recalling his decision to evacuate for the sake of his young daughter.
The storm is expected to make landfall on Wednesday night, bringing torrential rain, life-threatening storm surges, and catastrophic winds to the region. Governor Ron DeSantis has assured residents that shelters are ready, and fuel and electric charging stations are being deployed to aid those evacuating.
While some, like Tampa resident Chynna Perkins, are staying behind in newer homes outside evacuation zones, others are fleeing, filling highways, and straining fuel supplies. With memories of Helene’s destruction still fresh, the stakes could not be higher. Experts warn of flying debris from the previous hurricane, storm surges as high as 15 feet, and rainfall that could exceed 15 inches.
Florida’s emergency services are stretched as they simultaneously continue recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, which claimed over 225 lives across the southeastern US. With this new storm threatening to surpass Helene’s devastation, President Biden has canceled overseas visits to focus on response efforts.
As the storm barrels toward Florida, millions are anxiously awaiting the impact of what could be one of the worst hurricanes the state has faced in a century.