ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Hurricane Milton is getting closer to Florida’s west coast, bringing strong winds and rain. This storm is making people very worried because it could hit places near Tampa Bay, which were already hurt by another hurricane named Helene just two weeks ago.
The government has told around two million people in Florida to leave their homes and find safer places. Many more people are also in the area where Milton is expected to land.
As the storm got closer on Wednesday, officials began to sound alarms, warning that people who stayed on the small islands near Tampa might not survive the big waves and flooding expected from the hurricane.
Sandra Tapfumaneyi, an emergency manager in Sarasota County, told a news channel, “If you choose to stay, make sure you have a life preserver handy.” This means that staying might be very dangerous, and it’s better to leave.
At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the center of the storm was about 60 miles away from Sarasota, moving northeast at 17 miles per hour. While Milton weakened slightly to a Category 3 hurricane, it is still very dangerous with winds reaching 120 miles per hour.
Milton could push seawater onto land, which is called a storm surge, as high as 9 to 13 feet in some areas. It may also drop 6 to 12 inches of rain, with some places getting as much as 18 inches.
Even though the storm may weaken as it crosses Florida, it can still cause big problems when it reaches the other side of the state.
On Wednesday, officials confirmed at least 12 tornadoes touched down in Florida due to the storm. To keep people safe, the four bridges that cross Tampa Bay were closed before Milton hit. Many streets in nearby St. Petersburg were empty as people left to find safety.
People in Orlando, which is more inland, are also getting ready. Many said they felt safe during previous hurricanes, but they decided to take precautions this time because of how quickly Hurricane Milton got stronger.
Jim Naginey, a man who usually lives on the streets, said he has survived other hurricanes but wanted to find shelter this time. He went to Colonial High School, where he joined other families sitting on the gym floor, eating sandwiches and bananas.
“This one seems different,” he explained, mentioning the destruction he saw from another hurricane that hit North Carolina.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris asked people to listen to local officials about staying safe. Biden said, “It’s literally a matter of life and death.”
Emergency Preparations
Deanne Criswell, who is in charge of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said she would be in Florida to help after the storm. FEMA has already sent a lot of food and water to the area and is ready to help.
Trucks have been working hard to clear debris left by Hurricane Helene so that it doesn’t become dangerous during Milton.
Governor Ron DeSantis said that 2.8% of the U.S. economy is in the path of the hurricane, which means that businesses and other important places might be affected. Major attractions like Disney World and Universal Studios decided to close before the storm hit.
In addition, 19 hospitals evacuated patients, and places like mobile homes and nursing homes had to evacuate, too.
In Fort Myers, a man named Jamie Watts and his wife decided to stay in a hotel because their last home was destroyed by another hurricane last year. Jamie said, “My wife’s happy. We’re not in that tin can,” showing they are trying to be safe this time.
Hurricane Milton became one of the fastest storms to grow stronger in the Atlantic, going from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane in less than 24 hours. Climate scientists say that the warm waters in the ocean are helping storms like Milton become much stronger. They also remind us that human activities are making our planet warmer, which can lead to more intense storms.
