Millions of Florida residents have evacuated the state as Hurricane Milton approaches, with officials warning of an “epic catastrophe”. The Tampa metropolitan area, home to over 3 million people, is directly in the hurricane’s path. Forecasters have described Milton as the “storm of the century”, with the National Hurricane Center warning of an “extremely life-threatening situation” with damaging winds and torrential rainfall.
The hurricane weakened slightly from a Category 5 to a Category 4 as it approached the west coast of Florida, but it is still extremely powerful. Residents are being urged to evacuate if told to do so, as preparations need to be rushed. Many are still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene, which hit just two weeks prior and caused widespread damage in Florida and other states.
Residents are making preparations to either stay and ride out the storm or evacuate to safer areas. Airlines have added extra flights out of Florida cities, as highways are clogged with traffic from those trying to escape. The state is no stranger to hurricanes, having been hit by a series of devastating storms in recent years.
With memories of the destruction caused by previous hurricanes still fresh, residents are taking the warnings seriously and doing what they can to protect themselves and their properties. The state is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Milton and hoping for the best as the storm approaches.
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