Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that Hurricane Milton is expected to intensify rapidly into a major hurricane before slamming midweek into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast. Forecast models vary widely, but the most likely path suggests Milton could make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said. That would largely spare other southeastern states ravaged by Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic damage from Florida into the Appalachian mountains and a death toll that rose Sunday to 230 people.
“You have time to prepare — all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” the governor said. “If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”
The St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay area is still cleaning up extensive damage from Helene and its powerful storm surge. Twelve people perished as Helene swamped the coast, with the worst damage along the narrow, 20-mile (32-kilometer) string of barrier islands that stretch from St. Petersburg to Clearwater.
The state has prepared emergency fuel sources and EV charging stations along evacuation routes, and “identified every possible location that can possibly house someone along those routes,” said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. People who live in homes built after Florida strengthened its codes in 2004, who don’t depend on constant electricity and who aren’t in evacuation zones, should probably avoid the roads, he said.
All classes and school activities in St. Petersburg’s Pinellas County preemptively closed Monday through Wednesday as Milton approached, and the Tampa opened city garages for free so people could park their cars safe from the next floodwaters.
As many as 4,000 National Guard troops are helping state crews to remove debris, DeSantis said, and he directed that Florida crews dispatched to North Carolina in Helene’s aftermath return to the state to prepare for Milton.
Federal disaster assistance has surpassed $137 million since Helene struck more than a week ago, one of the largest mobilizations of personnel and resources in recent history, FEMA said Sunday. Nearly 7,000 personnel from across the federal workforce have been deployed, and the agency has shipped more than 14.9 million meals, more than 13.9 million liters of water, 157 generators and more than 505,000 tarps, along with approving more than $30 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 27,000 households.
More than 800 people unable to return home are staying in lodging provided through a FEMA sheltering assistance program, and while shelter numbers decline, 22 shelters are still housing nearly 1,000 people as mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors. The response to Helene will continue during Milton and its aftermath, FEMA said, saying the agency has the capacity to address multiple disasters simultaneously.
The hurricane center said Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the system’s progress. Heavy rainfall was expected Sunday ahead of the storm itself, and will likely then combine with Milton’s rainfall to flood waterways and streets in Florida, where forecasters said up to a foot (30 centimeters) of rain could fall in places through Wednesday night.
Conclusion:
Hurricane Milton is expected to intensify rapidly and make landfall in Florida, causing widespread damage and disruption. The state is preparing for the worst and urging residents to take precautions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has deployed personnel and resources to assist with the disaster response and has approved significant amounts of assistance for those affected.
FAQs:
* What is the expected path of Hurricane Milton?
+ Forecast models suggest that Milton could make landfall in the Tampa Bay area and move across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean.
* What is the expected impact of Hurricane Milton?
+ The storm is expected to cause widespread damage and disruption, with up to a foot of rain possible in some areas.
* How is the state preparing for Hurricane Milton?
+ The state has prepared emergency fuel sources and EV charging stations along evacuation routes and has identified every possible location that can possibly house someone along those routes.
* What is the current death toll from Hurricane Helene?
+ The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to 230 people.
* How is FEMA responding to the disasters?
+ FEMA has deployed personnel and resources to assist with the disaster response and has approved significant amounts of assistance for those affected.