Hurricane Milton approaches Florida
U.S. authorities have warned of the threat to life posed by Hurricane Milton, which briefly became a Category 5 storm but reverted to Category 4 on its way to Florida.
Milton is still packing ferocious winds of up to 155 mph (250 kph) as it passes through the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said coastal areas could experience a “potentially catastrophic” storm surge.
The storm is expected to hit the densely populated city of Tampa Bay in earnest on Wednesday, less than two weeks after the state was devastated by Hurricane Helen.
Floridians are being told to prepare for the state's largest evacuation effort in years.
Gov. Ron DeSantis warned that time for people to evacuate is quickly running out.
“We have to assume this is going to be a monster," DeSantis said at a news conference Monday afternoon, as officials warned the storm was a Category 5 storm.
Video: Meteorologist gets emotional giving Hurricane Milton update
The warning for Hurricane Milton comes just 10 days after Hurricane Helen, the worst mainland storm since Katrina in 2005, struck the southeastern United States, killing at least 225 people. Hundreds more are still missing.
At least 14 of those deaths have occurred in Florida, where 51 of the state’s 67 counties are currently under emergency warnings as Milton approaches.
“Unfortunately, some of Helen’s victims are in the path of this storm,” DeSantis said.
National Weather Service (NWS) Administrator Ken Graham said Milton became a Category 5 hurricane at record-breaking speeds, with winds increasing by 80 knots (148 km/h) in 24 hours.
“This is the third highest number we have recorded,” he said.
Hurricanes are divided into five categories based on wind speed.
According to the NWS, hurricanes that reach Category 3 or higher are considered major hurricanes because they can cause significant loss of life and damage.
Hurricane Milton is expected to weaken as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, downgrading to a Category 3 storm by the time it makes landfall in Tampa Bay, Florida, late Wednesday or early Thursday.
The National Hurricane Center warned that heavy rain and flash flooding is expected in parts of Florida starting late Monday.
The report added that life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds are possible along parts of Florida’s west coast late Tuesday into early Wednesday.
Rainfall totals could reach 15 inches (38 centimeters) locally, with storm surges of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) possible in coastal areas.
Counties will begin issuing evacuation orders starting Monday, and toll plazas will be temporarily suspended on roads across west and central Florida.
Long lines began forming at gas stations in southern Florida, and there were reports of gas stations running out of fuel.
DeSantis said traffic congestion in some areas is up to 90% higher than average.
School closures will begin in several counties starting Tuesday.
“We are encouraged by the volume of evacuations currently underway,” said Keith Tulli, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema).
“This is actually a good sign.”
Parts of Pinellas County where Helen killed at least a dozen people were under evacuation orders Monday.
Airports in Tampa and Orlando announced they would suspend flight operations starting Tuesday due to the storm.
Massive setback for people trying to escape Hurricane Milton
The presidential election campaign was also disrupted by the bad weather.
DeSantis spoke by phone with President Joe Biden, but declined to take a call from Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for president against former President Donald Trump, according to NBC News. .
“I didn’t know she called me…I didn’t realize it,” DeSantis said.
Asked about her missed calls on Monday afternoon, Harris said: “Using this moment to engage in political maneuvering during a time of crisis like this is the height of the emergency.” , totally irresponsible.
“And it’s about self-interest and political gamesmanship rather than doing the job we’re sworn to do, which is to put the people first.”
A town hall-style event scheduled to be filmed with President Trump in Miami on Tuesday has been postponed to next week.
“The health and safety of everyone involved in this event is our top priority,” Univision, the organizing network, said in a statement.
When and where is Milton expected to bat?
The approach of another hurricane comes as the US government warns that cleanup efforts could take years after Hurricane Helen.
More than 12,000 cubic yards of debris was removed from the Helen, Florida-hit area within two days, officials said.
DeSantis said debris removal will continue “until it is no longer safe.”
Hundreds of roads in the affected areas remain closed, hampering efforts to send aid to hard-hit communities.
Helen made landfall in late September as a Category 4 hurricane, damaging buildings, causing flash flooding and knocking out power to millions of homes.
Deaths were recorded not only in Florida, but also in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and the worst-hit state, North Carolina.
Mr. Biden ordered 500 more soldiers to be sent to North Carolina. The force, now numbering 1,500, will work alongside thousands of government relief workers and the National Guard.
Mr Biden has so far approved around $140 million (£107 million) in federal aid.
Reuters
Thousands of cots set up at Tropicana Field for hurricane evacuees
