Florida residents faced a final opportunity on Wednesday to evacuate or prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm expected to be one of the most devastating hurricanes to strike the Gulf Coast in recent history. More than one million people in coastal areas were under mandatory evacuation orders, as the storm barreled toward the state with sustained winds of 260 kph (160 mph).
In the Tampa Bay area, home to over 3 million people, highways became congested with fleeing residents, and gas stations reported widespread fuel shortages, adding to the anxiety in a region still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene just two weeks prior. Although forecasters noted that Hurricane Milton’s precise landfall could shift, it was projected to hit late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
The storm, unusual for its west-to-east trajectory through the Gulf of Mexico, is predicted to bring a life-threatening storm surge of over three meters (10 feet) to large portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast. U.S. President Joe Biden and local officials, including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, issued stern warnings to those in evacuation zones to leave immediately or face grave risk.
Michael Tylenda, a Tampa visitor, heeded the evacuation advice: “When you’re told to evacuate in Florida, it’s life or death. Homes and possessions can be replaced, but lives cannot.”
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified, rising from a Category 1 to a Category 5 in under 24 hours, marking it as the third-fastest intensifying storm on record in the Atlantic. Climate scientists attributed this rapid escalation to exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures, exacerbated by climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels. “These warm waters provided the energy needed for such fast intensification,” explained Daniel Gilford from Climate Central.
As the hurricane approached, businesses and services across the state, including airlines, energy companies, and major tourist attractions such as Universal Studios, began suspending operations. The economic impact is expected to be severe, with 2.8% of the U.S. gross domestic product directly in the storm’s path, according to Ryan Sweet, chief economist at Oxford Economics.
In addition to Tampa’s Hillsborough County, numerous other coastal areas issued mandatory evacuation orders. This included Pinellas County, which ordered the evacuation of over 500,000 people, and Lee County, with more than 416,000 residents in evacuation zones. Vulnerable communities, such as mobile homes and nursing facilities, were particularly urged to evacuate.
Jamie Watts, a resident of Fort Myers, decided to take refuge in a hotel with his wife after losing their previous mobile home to Hurricane Ian in 2022. “During Ian, we watched the roof tear off our home, and we’re not going through that again,” said Watts.
As the storm neared, gas shortages worsened, with around 17% of Florida’s 8,000 gas stations running out of fuel, according to GasBuddy, further complicating evacuation efforts.
With its size increasing and strength expected to remain formidable as it crosses the state, Hurricane Milton could also cause significant damage on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, potentially posing a threat to millions more. Authorities continue to urge those in the storm’s path to evacuate and take necessary precautions.
