Coco Gauff Expresses Concern for Florida Amidst Hurricane Milton

WUHAN, China—Coco Gauff, an American tennis player known for her active presence on social media, has expressed her concern for her home state of Florida, which is currently grappling with the impact of Hurricane Milton. As she competes at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, Gauff has been closely following the developments back home and sharing crucial information for affected residents.

Gauff, who resides in South Florida, addressed the devastation in a press conference following her victory over Marta Kostyuk in the third round of the tournament. “I’ve been following the news,” Gauff stated, emphasizing the severity of the situation in central and west Florida, especially areas around Tampa. She highlighted the presence of tornadoes and the potential for significant storm surge.

The storm, which was initially classified as a Category 5, made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing winds of up to 100 mph and causing an outbreak of deadly tornadoes. Forecasts have predicted storm surges reaching up to 10 feet in some regions, adding to the concern for local communities.

Even from afar, Gauff has utilized her platform to encourage Floridians to take necessary precautions, such as seeking shelter and heeding evacuation orders. She shared valuable resources for various types of shelters, addressing the needs of those with pets and special requirements on her social media channels.

Despite the unfolding crisis, Gauff emphasized the resilience of Floridians while expressing hope that there would be no loss of life and minimal property damage. “Floridians are pretty hurricane strong,” she stated, drawing attention to her southern Florida upbringing and the familiarity with such storms.

The challenges posed by Hurricane Milton come shortly after the impact of Hurricane Helene, further complicating the recovery efforts across the state. Emergency services are working diligently to restore power to the more than 3.2 million homes and businesses affected by the recent storms.