Hurricane Milton has intensified into a powerful Category 5 storm with winds of 175 mph, creating an urgent situation for Florida as it approaches the coast. The timing of Milton’s landfall poses a severe risk to residents still coping with the destruction from Hurricane Helene, which recently impacted the region.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency, calling for the largest evacuation in nearly a decade as the storm bears down. “This is going to be bad,” warned Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who urged residents to heed evacuation orders and prioritize their safety.
Milton’s projected landfall is expected to hit the Tampa Bay area, where officials have raised alarms about life-threatening storm surges. The National Hurricane Center is predicting conditions that could exacerbate the damage from Helene, which already left significant debris in many communities.
As the state struggles to clear remnants of the previous hurricane, DeSantis has ordered all debris collection sites to operate continuously. “We need as much of this debris picked up as possible,” he emphasized, as leftover wreckage poses additional hazards during Milton’s approach.
Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders, as the combination of two major hurricanes within a short timeframe presents unprecedented challenges for Florida.
