A staggering 500,000 inhabitants may confront evacuation mandates
in Pinellas County. The Governor has issued a stark warning regarding an
intensified storm surge and the potential for widespread devastation.
In
a decisive move, President Biden has dispatched an additional 500 active-duty troops
to fortify recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene's catastrophic
impact on western North Carolina.
"With
a cumulative force of 1,500 troops now enhancing a robust on-the-ground
operation—comprising over 6,100 National Guardsmen and upwards of 7,000 federal
personnel—my Administration is resolutely committed to leaving no stone
unturned in our quest to support families as they embark on the arduous journey
of rebuilding," Biden articulated in a poignant statement.
International Desk, Florida: Hurricane
Milton is still getting stronger and is aiming for the Florida Gulf Coast. As Hurricane Milton escalated in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida
prepared for its most significant evacuation since 2017, following the
devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. Milton, having transitioned from a
tropical storm to a hurricane on Sunday, is anticipated to make landfall on
Wednesday as a formidable hurricane, likely striking the densely populated
Tampa Bay region, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
This
new tempest is poised to impact areas already ravaged by Helene, which made
landfall further north on September 26. Kevin Guthrie, the director of
Florida's emergency management division, implored residents to brace for
"the largest evacuation we have witnessed since Hurricane Irma in
2017."
"I
strongly urge you to evacuate," Guthrie emphasized during a press
conference aimed at Floridians.
As
of 7 p.m. EDT on Sunday (0000 GMT on Monday), Milton was situated approximately
780 miles (1,255 km) west-southwest of Tampa, boasting maximum sustained winds
of 85 mph (140 km) and advancing eastward toward Florida at a speed of 7 mph
(11 kph), as reported by the National Hurricane Center.
A
hurricane watch is currently in effect for the northern coast of Mexico's
Yucatan Peninsula. The wind velocity categorizes it as a Category 1 on the
five-tier Saffir-Simpson scale, although an upgrade is anticipated. The private
forecasting entity AccuWeather predicts it could reach a 4 out of 5 on its own scale,
indicating the potential for widespread catastrophic flooding.
Governor
Ron DeSantis has issued warnings regarding a possibly heightened storm surge
and increased power outages from Milton in comparison to Helene, suggesting
that the destruction caused by Helene could be exacerbated.
