Hurricane Milton Threatens Florida’s Gulf Coast

The impending arrival of Hurricane Milton, categorized as a Category 5 storm, is posing a significant threat to the western coast of Florida, with expectations to hit the region between Wednesday afternoon and evening. The U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued urgent warnings regarding the severe impact anticipated in the Tampa Bay area, prompting mandatory evacuation orders for various parts of the metropolitan zone.

Governor Ron DeSantis has extended a state of emergency declaration to 51 of Florida’s 67 counties, covering areas where over 90% of the state’s nearly 23 million residents reside. This includes Hillsborough County, home to Tampa Bay, where emergency management officials are prioritizing evacuation zones by color-coded urgency, with Zones A and B requiring evacuation by Monday afternoon.

Communities within Zones A and B, identified by red and orange hues, include neighborhoods closest to water bodies such as Sun Bay South, Davis Islands, and South Tampa in the Tampa area. Other areas, including Westchase to the north, and Palm River-Claire Mel, Gibsonton, Adamsville, Apollo Beach, and Ruskin to the east and southeast, are also affected. In nearby St. Petersburg, areas like Gandy, Shore Acres, and Feather Sound, along with parts of Bay Pines and Bardmoor, fall under these zones.

Governor DeSantis advises all Florida residents to prepare for power outages and ensure adequate supplies of water and food, sufficient for at least a week. “Milton has the potential to become one of the most damaging and costly hurricanes for Florida, bringing with it life-threatening dangers,” stated Jonathan Porter, Chief Meteorologist of AccuWeather.

Beyond Hillsborough, the state has mandated evacuations in Charlotte, Pasco, Pinellas, and Lee counties. Residents in these areas, especially those in Zones A and B—and Zone C in the cases of Pasco and Pinellas—are urged to evacuate. Voluntary evacuations are advised in Glades and Okeechobee counties, whereas Sarasota authorities stress the importance of having contingency plans ready.

The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene has already shown the destructive potential of strong hurricanes, leading the National Football League and its associated foundations to make donations totaling $8 million for those affected.