Hurricane Milton surges closer to Florida ahead of storm landfall while tornadoes batter state: Live updates
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.
DeSantis on misinformation related to FEMA assistance in state of Florida: ‘We are going to do it right’
“I am in charge in Florida. We are working with FEMA to leverage resources,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told CBS Wednesday night. “But, we make the decisions. You will be allowed back into your home as soon as the storm passes.”
“We are going to do it right,” he said.
Julia Musto10 October 2024 00:34
DeSantis says Florida ready for Milton, but its still a ‘very dangerous’ storm
Julia Musto10 October 2024 00:28
Reporter rescues wailing cat stuck under car as Milton’s rains pound western Florida
Julia Musto10 October 2024 00:24
Milton’s northern eyewall moves onshore near Tampa, St. Petersburg
The northern eyewall of Hurricane Milton is beginning to move onshore near Tampa and St. Petersburg, where an Extreme Wind Warning is now in effect until after 9 p.m. EDT.
“Please shelter in place as these extremely dangerous hurricane-force winds overspread the region,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Julia Musto10 October 2024 00:00
