(Scypre.com) – Florida’s Gulf Coast is in a race against time as the state braces for the impact of Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 5 storm expected to hit the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday. The region is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which left behind debris and devastation just two weeks ago. Workers hurriedly cleared streets of appliances, furniture, and other debris to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles as Milton approaches. With its sustained winds of 175 mph (282 kph), the storm is expected to bring widespread flooding and storm surges, particularly in the Tampa Bay area.
Preparations and Evacuations Begin
Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the urgency of removing debris left by Helene to minimize risks during Milton’s onslaught. “We don’t have time for bureaucracy and red tape,” DeSantis said, referring to efforts to speed up cleanup operations. He warned that failing to remove storm remnants could lead to dangerous airborne debris during the hurricane’s high winds.
Evacuation orders have been issued across Tampa, including mobile and manufactured homes, with a potential storm surge expected to reach 8 to 12 feet. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency, and 7,000 federal workers have been mobilized to assist, marking one of the largest federal responses in recent history.
A Population at Risk
Meteorologists expressed concern for Tampa’s 3.3 million residents, many of whom have little experience with direct hits from hurricanes. MIT meteorology professor Kerry Emanuel noted that the city is particularly vulnerable due to its dense population and exposure to storm surges. “It’s a huge population. It’s very exposed, very inexperienced, and that’s a losing proposition,” he said.
Milton’s rapid intensification over the Gulf of Mexico has raised alarms. In just 24 hours, the storm’s wind speeds increased by 92 mph (148 kph), nearing records set by past hurricanes like Wilma and Felix. The storm is also expected to undergo an “eye wall replacement cycle,” which could weaken its wind speeds but expand its size, according to Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University.
Memories of Irma and Helene
The memories of past storms loom large as Florida residents prepare for Milton. Many recall Hurricane Irma’s mass evacuation in 2017, which led to gridlocked highways and fuel shortages. The same scenes are playing out again as vehicles flood Interstate 75 heading north, with gas stations in parts of Tampa and Fort Myers already running out of fuel.
For some, the debate over whether to evacuate continues. Tanya Marunchak, a resident of Belleair Beach, is torn. Her home was severely flooded by Helene, and while she wants to leave, her husband believes their three-story home is strong enough to withstand Milton. “We lost all our cars, all our furniture,” Marunchak said. “This is the oddest weather predicament that there has ever been.”
Lingering Damage and Future Uncertainty
While Florida scrambles to prepare, other regions are still reeling from recent storms. The Fort Myers area is recovering from Hurricane Ian, which caused $112 billion in damage just two years ago. Meanwhile, Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is bracing for impacts from Milton, with evacuation orders already in place.
Schools in Pinellas County are converting into shelters, and Tampa officials have opened city garages to protect vehicles from anticipated flooding. As the state faces its second major storm in weeks, residents are hopeful but weary, knowing that Florida’s storm season is far from over.