Florida residents in the path of Hurricane Milton have received a last-ditch emergency alert to “GET OUT NOW” ahead of the storm making landfall on Wednesday night.
While Milton’s intensity continues to fluctuate, and again weakening to a Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center predicts it will be “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida”.
The storm continues to grow in size and winds are expected to pick up on Florida’s west coast this afternoon, the NHC warned.
In Pinellas County’s latest emergency alert, officials pleaded with residents to “GET OUT NOW. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET OUT BEFORE THE STORM.”
Federal and state officials have urged those in Milton’s path to evacuate to avoid “catastrophic” winds, up to 18in rainfall and up to 15ft of storm surge, before the major hurricane slams into Florida’s west-central coast.
“This is the 11th hour. If you’re in an evacuation zone, the time to get out is now,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chard Chronister told CNN on Wednesday.
Vice President Kamala Harris warned that even the toughest Floridians won’t weather the “historic” hurricane, she said on The Late Show on Tuesday night.
Gov. DeSantis urges residents to evacuate while they still can before Hurricane Milton hits
Julia Musto9 October 2024 21:25
Watch: Hurricane Milton’s unprecedented rapid intensification
Mike Bedigan9 October 2024 21:20
Tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall spreading inland across the Florida peninsula
Julia Musto9 October 2024 21:18
Photos show moments ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall
Julia Musto9 October 2024 21:15
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stresses importance of trusted sources of information
“It is so important right now to turn to trusted sources of information … and not be listening to some guy on the internet,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told MSNBC on Wednesday afternoon.
He advised people to turn to the 511 system for updates.
Buttigieg said Transportation Department personnel are on the ground in Florida ahead of Milton.
“We’re doing everything we can to help make sure Florida is well positioned to recover,” he said.
Julia Musto9 October 2024 21:14
People pose for photos at Florida’s southernmost point as waves crash down on them
Julia Musto9 October 2024 21:10
Hannity pushes bogus claims about FEMA hurricane response – which Fox News itself discredited
Hannity said during his monologue that he was responding to comments from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
“You have [Department of Homeland Security] secretary Alejandro Mayorkas saying FEMA is running out of money and going bankrupt,” he said on his show. “This has not been a busy hurricane season.”
Julia Musto9 October 2024 21:05
Watch: Astronaut films Hurricane Milton’s huge size as seen from space
Astronaut films Hurricane Milton’s huge size as seen from space
A Nasa astronaut on the International Space Station recorded a timelapse video showing the huge size of Hurricane Milton. Matthew Dominick recorded a timelapse video showing the storm from his view out of the Dragon Endeavour window. As of Wednesday (9 October), Milton’s intensity continued to fluctuate, weakening to a Category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center has predicted the storm will be “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida” with millions of residents urged to evacuate ahead of it making landfall on Wednesday evening.
James Liddell9 October 2024 21:00
