Hurricane Milton is barreling toward Florida’s west coast, threatening to unleash catastrophic damage as it approaches landfall near Tampa Bay. Steady rain and gusty winds swept the region early Wednesday, as millions of residents faced evacuation orders while some stubbornly chose to stay behind.
The Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, hasn’t experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane in over a century. Hurricane Milton, fluctuating between Category 4 and 5, is expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. Despite wind variations, the National Hurricane Center warned that the storm would be life-threatening.
“This is it, folks,” said Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, as she urged residents to evacuate immediately. “If you were here during Hurricane Helene, this one is going to be much worse. You need to get out now.”
Emergency services prepared for the worst. Major bridges in Tampa Bay were scheduled to close, and public shelters were set up. Despite signs that the storm’s eye might strike south of Tampa, Perkins stressed that no one in the region should feel safe.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister echoed the urgency, urging residents to finalize evacuation plans. “This is the 11th hour. If you need to get to safety, now is the time,” Chronister warned.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis activated 9,000 National Guard members and deployed over 50,000 utility workers to restore power once the storm passes. Gasoline tankers were being escorted by highway patrol cars to ensure fuel availability.
By Wednesday morning, Milton was located 230 miles southwest of Tampa, with maximum winds of 155 mph, just shy of Category 5. The storm’s destructive potential has caused panic, particularly in areas still recovering from Hurricane Helene two weeks ago. With debris still littering coastal neighborhoods, officials warned that Milton’s 12-to-15-foot storm surges would cause further destruction.
As conditions worsened, rain began spreading across southern Florida, with forecasters warning of up to 18 inches of rainfall in some areas and a significant risk of tornadoes.
Authorities have ordered evacuations in 11 counties, affecting nearly six million people. With first responders unlikely to operate at the height of the storm, anyone remaining behind would have to fend for themselves, officials said.
