Hurricane Milton nears landfall in Florida, battering coast with 120-mph winds and storm surges: Live updates
Multiple confirmed tornados tore across southern Florida as ‘storm of the century’ approaches landfall in Sunshine State
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Florida residents in the path of Hurricane Milton were instructed to take shelter Wednesday afternoon ahead of the storm’s anticipated landfall in the evening.
The storm brought destructive tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge, hours before it was expected to make landfall.
More than 311,000 customers were without power across the Sunshine State, according to outage tracker PowerOutage.US.
While Milton’s intensity continues to fluctuate, weakening to a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center predicts it will be “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida”.
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.
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.
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche told CNN on Wednesday that officers will stay on the streets until Milton’s winds top 45mph.
“If people need help, we’re not going to be able to come to them,” he said.
‘We urge you to take this storm seriously,’ Vice President Kamala Harris says in update
Orlando mayor says city is ‘as prepared as we can be'
“We’re as prepared as we can be,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer told Fox Weather on Wednesday afternoon.
Dyer asked residents to take Hurricane Milton seriously.
Orlando residents are not necessarily being asked to evacuate unless they are in flood-prone areas, he said.
Milton moving toward Tampa Bay with maximum sustained winds of 130mph
Florida power outages leap up above 65K
There were more than 65,000 customers without power in Florida on Wednesday afternoon, according to tracker PowerOutage.US.
Watch: Penguins moved to safety at Florida Aquarium as Hurricane Milton nears
The Florida Aquarium has moved its penguins to higher ground ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall on Wednesday evening.
“Several other animals were moved today, including a smack of moon jellies, six snakes, three lizards, 3 turtles, two alligators, 2 toads and a hermit crab,” it said in a statement.
Florida Highway Patrol stays stay off the highways ‘unless you are evacuating'
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments