The National Hurricane Center warned Floridians that a “life-threatening” storm surge was heading for the west-central coast of the Florida Peninsula with Hurricane Milton.
“A large area of destructive storm surge, with highest inundations of 10 ft or greater, is expected along a portion of the west-central coast of the Florida Peninsula,” the advisory read. “If you are in the Storm Surge Warning area, this is an extremely life-threatening situation, and you should evacuate as soon as possible if ordered by local officials.”
The advisory noted that “devastating hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the west coast of Florida, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect,” adding that “life-threatening hurricane-force winds” are expected to “spread inland across the peninsula.”
Further emphasizing the “life-threatening” nature of the storm surge and hurricane, the advisory stated that heavy rainfall “brings the risk of catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding.”
As of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Milton was centered an estimated 230 miles southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mpg, the Associated Press reported.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for 11 counties, nearly 6 million people in total, according to the outlet.
Pinellas County’s emergency management director, Cathie Perkins, urged residents to flee.
“This is it, folks,” Perkins said. “Those of you who were punched during Hurricane Helene, this is going to be a knockout. You need to get out, and you need to get out now.”
“Everybody in Tampa Bay should assume we are going to be ground zero,” she added.
Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody, addressed those who are choosing to remain in Florida during Milton, saying, “[Y]ou probably need to write your name in permanent marker on your arm so that people know who you are when they get to you afterwards.”
