(NewsNation) — Florida residents are bracing for Hurricane Milton, which is likely to make landfall Wednesday near the Tampa Bay area, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene hit the state.
A rapidly growing storm
Milton rapidly strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane Monday and is forecast to be the worst storm to hit the Tampa Bay area in 100 years with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph. Forecasters warn the area could see a storm surge up to 12 feet, leading the way for evacuations.
The hurricane reached an incredibly low pressure on Monday night, which generally correlates with a storm’s strength. The lower a system’s pressure, the stronger the hurricane.
As of Monday afternoon, there were already traffic backups of people attempting to leave the Tampa area, leading authorities to institute emergency shoulder use, allowing vehicles to travel on the inside shoulder of the road.
Northbound traffic on Interstate 75 was bumper to bumper for miles, moving roughly 6 mph as Floridians and tourists alike tried to flee the state on Monday.
Flights out of Florida will stop Tuesday, with Tampa International Airport grounding trips at 9 a.m. and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport closing after the last flight that day.
The hurricane went from a Category 1 to a Category 5 in less than 24 hours, becoming only the second Category 5 hurricane to form in the Gulf of Mexico since 1966.
Forecast models currently show Milton making landfall Wednesday and remaining at hurricane strength as it moves across Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean. The current track would avoid other states affected by Helene, which has resulted in at least 230 deaths so far with many still missing in the Appalachians.
Preparing for Hurricane Milton
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for South Florida to allow federal resources to assist state and local efforts.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged residents to execute preparedness plans, noting that there is still time to get ready, but it has to be done quickly. He also detailed efforts being made to protect critical infrastructure such as water treatment plans and to stock up on fuel ahead of the storm.
In a Monday briefing with reporters, DeSantis called the hurricane “ferocious” and emphasized the system’s rapid strengthening.
“At the strength it is now, this is a really, really strong storm. The effects of that, not just from the storm surge but from wind damage and debris, will be really, really significant,” DeSantis said. “This is not a storm you want to take a risk on.”
Less than an hour later, the U.S. National Hurricane Center issued storm surge warnings and hurricane warnings for almost all of Florida’s west coast.
The hurricane center also issued storm surge watches on the U.S. East Coast including much of Florida up to parts of South Carolina.
“If you are in an evacuation area, I beg you, I implore you to leave,” said Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. “Drowning deaths from storm surges are 100% preventable if you leave.”
Residents are urged to resupply disaster kits that may have been depleted during Helene on Monday and said those with special needs should sign up for the state registry as soon as possible.
The governor said the state could expect a number of evacuation orders to be issued today and that shelters would be open after evacuation orders were given. Officials also urged those with the means to do so to get on the road as soon as possible and to consider hotels in areas less likely to be hard hit, especially people who are reliant on power for medical devices.
DeSantis noted that people do not have to evacuate hundreds of miles and that those on barrier islands and in low-lying areas may be able to go to a shelter in their own county.
The state is preparing for the largest evacuation since Hurricane Irma in 2017 when 7 million people were told to evacuate. Tolls have been suspended to aid in evacuation efforts and hotels are offering disaster rates, which also include accepting pets regardless of if a hotel is usually pet-friendly.
Ahead of the storm, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced they would be relocating to the New Orleans area for the week. DeSantis said the state would not be extending the deadline for voter registration because of the storm.
Florida still reeling from Helene
Milton comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane before weakening over land. While Helene decreased in intensity as it traversed the Southeast, the storm still brought major devastation to several states, with western North Carolina still largely cut off due to storm damage.
DeSantis noted that crews sent to assist other states hit by Helene have been recalled to Florida to prepare for Milton. He also said debris removal operations were going to continue as long as possible to avoid additional damage.
“We need as much of this debris picked up as possible. This creates a safety hazard and it will also increase the damage Hurricane Milton will do,” he said.
Milton also makes the first time there have been three hurricanes happening simultaneously in the Atlantic, though Hurricanes Leslie and Kirk are not currently expected to make landfall.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.