The Mayor of Tampa issues a do-or-die warning as Hurricane Milton threatens to bring serious destruction to the US state of Florida. US Correspondent Robert Moore reports
Florida is preparing for “life-threatening and catastrophic” flooding as Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, just a week after Helene caused widespread destruction.
Around 5.9 million people in 11 counties have been told to evacuate, with President Joe Biden urging people to leave immediately “as a matter of life and death”.
Petrol stations across Florida had long lines and some ran out of fuel on Tuesday, as residents prepared to evacuate or brace for the storm.
Florida’s main airport and tourist attractions including Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld will close on Wednesday due to the extreme weather.
All flights between the UK and Florida have been cancelled.
A crew of weather experts have an incredibly bumpy ride as they hit turbulence while collecting data on Hurricane Milton
Speaking to ITV News, the Mayor of Tampa, Jane Castor, had an extreme warning for those choosing to stay in evacuation areas.
She said: “I can say without any dramatisations whatsoever; if you choose to stay in one of these evacuation areas you’re gonna die.”
The US Weather Prediction Centre has increased the rainfall threat level for the state.
It warned that “widespread and numerous instances of flash flooding are expected with life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding probable”.
President Biden has postponed a planned trip to Germany and Angola in order to coordinate the response.
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Wednesday in the western Florida region of Tampa Bay, bringing near-record winds and a massive storm surge.
Eight to 12 inches of rain are expected to fall on Tampa and Orlando through to Thursday.
For Orlando, this would equal about two months’ worth of rain and for Tampa, that would be more than five months’ worth of rain.
Forecasters also expect as much as 15 inches of rain in other places.
The heavy rainfall combined with a high storm surge could create a dangerous situation for residents.
A 2.4 to 2.6-metre storm surge is forecast in Tampa Bay, the highest ever predicted surge for the region.
The Weather Prediction Centre said: “At the time of high tide and the storm surge, the added water from the Gulf/Atlantic will effectively block effective drainage from the rainfall falling over the interior.
“The 6-12 inches (of rainfall) having nowhere to drain due to the high tide and storm surge flooding will also work to exacerbate the flooding impacts from Milton since that rainwater will have nowhere to drain.”
Hurricane Milton dipped down to category 4 strength overnight on Monday, but rebounded to a category 5 later on Tuesday.
The Bahamas also lies in the path of Milton and the government has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the extreme northwestern Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, the Abacos, and Bimini in response to the hurricane.
Even though it is forecast to weaken before it makes landfall, it is likely to keep growing in size – meaning its disastrous impacts will be felt over a much larger area.
Floridians have either left their homes or are waiting in line at petrol stations as the storm approaches.
Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, said on Monday that the state needed to clear debris from the recent hurricane Helene ahead of Milton’s arrival.
There’s a danger the debris could become projectiles due to the hurricane’s high winds.
At least 231 people were killed across six states when Helene tore across the southeastern US, including parts of Florida.
Fleets of excavators have been working around the clock to haul away the three-foot-high piles of waterlogged couches, appliances, mattresses and two-by-fours that line the streets of the places devastated by Helene.
US representative Kathy Castor said that 7,000 federal workers were summoned to aid in one of the largest mobilisations of federal workers in history.
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