Officials in Florida are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm expected to make landfall less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. The National Hurricane Center has issued evacuation orders and warnings, urging residents to leave the area to avoid potentially catastrophic damage. Milton is forecasted to bring storm surges of up to 15 feet, significantly higher than those seen during Helene. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the importance of evacuation, warning that time is running out for residents to prepare and execute their evacuation plans. President Biden described Milton as a potentially historic storm, possibly the worst to hit Florida in over a century. Local officials, including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, have stressed the seriousness of the situation, urging residents to evacuate and comply with mandatory orders to ensure their safety. Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert warned that the predicted storm surge is not survivable, urging residents to evacuate to avoid the danger posed by the storm. The state has declared a state of emergency in 51 counties, with tolls waived on western Florida roads to facilitate evacuations. Federal resources are on standby to assist local leaders and residents in preparing for what could be a devastating storm.
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