Hurricane Milton Approaches Florida; Warnings Issued for Several Counties

St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties are currently under a hurricane warning as Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm, advances towards Florida. The National Hurricane Center has projected that the hurricane will make landfall along Florida’s west coast late Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. Martin County is under a hurricane watch, whereas Palm Beach County is currently under a tropical storm warning.

The National Hurricane Center’s 2 a.m. advisory described Hurricane Milton as an “extremely powerful” storm, with maximum sustained winds reaching 160 miles per hour and moving east-northeast at a speed of 12 miles per hour. Forecasts indicate it will arrive on Florida’s Gulf coast as a “dangerous major hurricane” by late Wednesday night.

To prepare for the storm’s potential impact, a boil water advisory has been issued in Okeechobee County. According to the Okeechobee Utility Authority, the advisory will commence at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and remain in effect until further notice. Due to the hurricane, the Authority’s offices will be closed on Wednesday and are scheduled to reopen on Thursday at noon. Residents experiencing water or sewer emergencies are advised to contact the utility by calling (863) 763-9460 and selecting option 3.

WPTV reporter Ethan Stein interviewed Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford concerning the storm. The mayor expressed his concerns about debris in the county possibly becoming hazardous projectiles due to the strong winds.

In preparation for the hurricane, cadets from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Leadership Academy assisted in filling sandbags at the Okeechobee County Public Works Department. Citizens are able to collect sandbags at the location, with a limitation of ten bags per vehicle, and must fill their own bags.