Hurricane Milton live updates: Thousands evacuate as Florida braces for monster Category 5 storm

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state officials pleaded with residents to evacuate ahead of Wednesday’s projected landfall

Meteorologist fights back tears as he gives updates on ‘life threatening’ Hurricane Milton

Milton restrengthened into a Category 5 hurricane late Tuesday afternoon as it moved toward western Florida.

Governor Ron DeSantis warned the state’s residents that “time is running out” for them to evacuate.

“You may have a window where it may be safe, but you may not,” he said. “So, use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family.”

His warning comes after Tampa mayor Jane Castor told CNN on Monday that residents will die if they don’t evacuate as Hurricane Milton races towards the state’s west coast.

Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the Sunshine State almost two weeks ago, was a “wake-up call,” she said. Milton could be “literally catastrophic,” Castor added.

The potential “once in a lifetime” storm rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane on Monday with sustained winds surpassing 180mph, before slowing to Category 4 on Tuesday.

The National Hurricane Center has warned that Milton may regain strength and grow in size, posing “even more danger” as it is expected to make landfall in Florida by Wednesday evening, slamming into the densely populated Tampa Bay.

President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration on Monday after pledging “life-saving resources in advance of the storm,” the day prior.

Key Points

• Hurricane Milton downgraded to Category 4 but can regain strength
• Florida potentially faces most damaging hurricane yet
• Mapped: Charting Hurricane Milton’s path as it heads for Florida
• How ocean heat acted as 'rocket fuel' for Hurricane Milton
• Should I evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall?
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tells evacuees that time is ‘running out'

[8 October 2024 21:10 · Julia Musto]

‘A mad dash to find gas’: Empty stations and gridlock make Hurricane Milton evacuations tricky

Florida residents have described a “mad dash to get gas” as thousands scramble to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Those attempting to leave the area have been caught up in heavy congestion and other travel headaches. In areas such as Pinellas County, which encompasses the cities of Clearwater and St Petersburg and has a population just shy of one million, up to 60 percent of residents have been told to get out.

Authorities are taking a more proactive approach to storm preparations and evacuation in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which killed over 200 people across six states. Milton is expected to slam into Tampa on Wednesday.

The Independent’s Mike Bedigan has the latest: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/hurricane-milton-evacuation-gas-tampa-florida-b2626002.html

[8 October 2024 21:00 · Julia Musto]

Milton's storm surge is a threat that could be devastating far beyond the Tampa Bay region

Two weeks ago, Hurricane Helene “spared” the Tampa Bay region a direct hit and yet storm surge still caused catastrophic damage, flooding homes, drowning people who decided to stay near the coast and leaving massive piles of debris that still sit along roadsides.

Now that Hurricane Milton, a more powerful storm, is heading straight for the same region, what can residents expect?

“Worse. Much worse,” said former Federal Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate, a Florida resident who previously ran the state’s emergency management division.

The Associated Press has the latest: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ap-tampa-bay-tallahassee-hurricane-ian-naples-b2626058.html

[8 October 2024 20:50 · Julia Musto]

Florida Transportation Department reinforces Sainbel Causeway

[8 October 2024 20:48 · Julia Musto]

DeSantis says Milton moving slower than projected over last 36 hours, will bring impacts across Florida

“There is still a lot of uncertainty about where exactly the eye of the storm is going to hit,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told reporters on Tuesday.

DeSantis said current projections showed it just south of Tampa Bay in Manatee, but that officials would know more over the next 12 to 18 hours.

Warnings or watches have been issued for nearly the entire Florida peninsula.

“Almost every place on the west coast of Florida could get major storm surge,” DeSantis said.

The governor noted that the storm will bring significant impacts across the Sunshine State, and is going to exit on its eastern coastline “likely” still at hurricane strength.

[8 October 2024 20:45 · Julia Musto]

Bridges in Manatee, Sarasota Counties are locked down to boat openings

[8 October 2024 20:42 · Julia Musto]

DeSantis confident federal government will approve whatever resources state needs

“I’m that the confident federal government will approve what we need approved going forward,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday afternoon in a press briefing.

“And, we’ll make sure that we continue doing the best we can for the people of this state.”

These comments come after DeSantis faced criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris earlier in the day, and following reports DeSantis would not take her phone calls.

DeSantis told “Fox & Friends” this morning that Harris was “playing political games.”

[8 October 2024 20:35 · Julia Musto]

‘It’s not about you Kamala!’ DeSantis lashes out at Harris as they spar over Hurricane Milton

As Hurricane Milton bears down on the U.S, Florida governor Ron DeSantis has accused Kamala Harris of politicizing storm preparations, after the vice president called the Republican “selfish” for reportedly ignoring her calls.

“We’ve been on emergency footing around the clock, two weeks straight,” DeSantis told Fox News on Tuesday. “That’s been my sole focus. My focus has not been on dealing with Kamala Harris. I saw the news report. I didn’t know she tried to contact me. It’s not about you, Kamala. It’s about the people of Florida.”

The Independent’s Josh Marcus has the latest: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ron-desantis-kamala-harris-hurricane-b2626042.html

[8 October 2024 20:32 · Julia Musto]

Florida officials say the window is ‘closing’ on evacuation

“If you’re wondering, ‘Should I evacuate?’ Go ahead and evacuate while you still have time,” the Florida Department of Transportation said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

[8 October 2024 20:24 · Julia Musto]

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gives an update on Hurricane Milton: ‘I know everybody’s tired'

[8 October 2024 20:21 · Julia Musto]

Images show Florida evacuations, preparations for Milton

A drone image captures cars evacuating on Tampa highways Tuesday. State officials told residents that the time to leave the area is now. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Ted Carlson puts his best friend Evan Purcell's cat McKenzie into a pick-up truck on Anna Maria Island, as the pair evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton on Tuesday. The area had been hit hard by Hurricane Helene just days prior. ((AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell))

Highway signage announces the impending arrival of Hurricane Milton and the evacuations zones Tuesday in Port Richey, Florida. Additional lanes were opened to ensure people could leave. ((AP Photo/Mike Carlson))

Debris from homes flooded in Hurricane Helene is piled curbside in Port Richey, Florida, on Tuesday, as Hurricane Milton approaches. The state was working to clear as much debris as it could before Milton hits. ((AP Photo/Mike Carlson))