Florida Braces for Hurricane Milton, Set to Make Landfall Today

Thought Question: How do you find strength or support during difficult times?

Thousands of Floridians have fled their homes for the second time in two weeks. That's because a second major storm, Hurricane Milton, is forecast to slam into the state’s west coast this evening.

The cyclone briefly attained Category 5 status while over the Gulf of Mexico. That's the most dangerous classification. As it barreled toward the Florida coast, it packed Category 4 wind speeds of 150 miles per hour. Some experts predict it could slow before landfall. But even if it does, it is forecast to strike with a devastating force. It could carry with it a life-threatening storm surge of up to 15 feet.   

John Cangialosi said Tuesday that Milton could be "one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida." He's an expert with the National Hurricane Center. If it strikes Tampa Bay, it could be the first major hurricane to hit the area in more than a hundred years.  

Officials warned that the storm’s strong winds could turn debris left behind by Hurricane Helene into deadly flying objects. Those who live in 10 of the 25 west Florida counties under evacuation orders for Milton were also ordered to leave for Helene. That storm killed at least 19 people in the state. It struck on September 26.    

Milton is hitting at a bad time. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is stretched thin. Its responders are still dealing with Helene and other disasters. Some are dealing with this year’s wildfires. Some are dealing with flooding in Vermont. Some are responding to Kansas tornadoes. And others are dealing with the damage caused by Tropical Storm Debby in Georgia and New York. Only 9% of FEMA's responders are available.    

The storm’s strange path across the Gulf of Mexico might be its only saving grace. Most storms turn north and hit larger parts of the southeastern US. This storm is forecast to cross over central Florida before heading to open sea.  

Photo of a satellite image showing the whirlwind formation of Hurricane Milton from Reuters.