Thousands are trapped in Floridas Hurricane hell as traffic queues clog roads and gas is running out while monster storm Milton closes in and officials warn residents to flee or die
Thousands of residents remain trapped in Florida as Hurricane Milton evacuation orders prompt a mass exodus ahead of the monster storms arrival tomorrow.
Thousands of residents remain trapped in Florida as Hurricane Milton evacuation orders prompt a mass exodus ahead of the monster storms arrival tomorrow.
Traffic was at a standstill along Floridas interstates this morning after officials in the Tampa Bay area warned residents to flee or die as the Category 4 strength hurricane, which threatening the densely populated metro area, closes in.
However, some residents have claimed they cannot follow evacuation orders because it could be more dangerous to hit the roads, alleging traffic is too congested and gas stations in their communities are out of fuel.
Other concerned locals have said they are unable to afford the cost of either driving or flying their way out of the state ahead of the storm, which is expected to be massive and bring devastation to Floridas Gulf Coast.
Almost the entirety of Floridas west coast is under hurricane warning this morning as Milton and its 155mph winds creep toward the state at 12mph, sucking energy from the Gulf of Mexicos warm water.
Miltons center could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area, which has not endured a direct hit by a major hurricane in more than a century. Mayor Jane Castor issued a stark warning to residents that if they dont evacuate, you are going to die.
Traffic was at a standstill along I-75 in Tampa this morning as Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida
People fill sandbags as the state prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Milton on October 7, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida
Floridians have posted fuel updates on social media, alerting their neighbors where gas is still available in the community. A resident this morning revealed that in Port Charlotte, Florida some gas stations are out of fuel but that they were able to get gas at Wawa
Locals have taken to social media, detailing their fears as they struggle to evacuate from communities located in Miltons expected direct path.
Sharing drone footage of clogged traffic along I-75 between Morris Bridge and Bruce B Downs on Monday, one X user said: This is why a lot of people are staying behind, at a certain point traffic is so bad you cannot get out of Florida, or theres no gas. So youre stuck outside of Gainesville.
One woman, whose son lives in Hernando County, said that he is trapped.
Everywhere is out of gas and roads are too backed up for him to evaluate, she tweeted. He has family in Georgia but cant get there. This is scary. He is scared. I am terrified for him.
The concerned mother added that her sons community was also among those flooded by Hurricane Helene last week. She said: Now Milton is heading for them.
Multiple people have posted anecdotes on X claiming they are unable to afford the cost of either driving or flying their way out of the state.
Ive had two people in the last HOUR tell me they cant afford to evacuate for Hurricane Milton Never tell me low wages arent violent ever again, one user on X posted.
A Sarasota resident also claimed they lack the financial means to get out of the storms way.
I live in Sarasota, which is in the direct path of Hurricane Milton. They are evacuating my town, but there is no gas left to evacuate, and traffic is so bad that it could be more dangerous to try and evacuate at this point. What would you do if you were me?
Residents have been warned to flee or die as Hurricane Milton closes in
Nearly the entirety of Florida s west coast is under a hurricane warning today as Milton and its 180mph winds creep towards the state, sucking energy from the Gulf of Mexicos warm water
Nearly the entirety of Floridas west coast is under a hurricane warning today Hurricane Milton and its 180mph winds creep towards the state, sucking energy from the Gulf of Mexicos warm water
The window has also nearly closed for people to escape the Tampa Bay area by plane.
Tampa International Airport said it will stop flights at 9am today. The airport posted on X that it is not a shelter for people or their cars.
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport said it is in a mandatory evacuation zone and will close after the last flight leaves today.
Delta Air Lines ran out of flights from Tampa to Atlanta at 10.30am Monday, with customers having to pay more than $800 for a roundabout flight to Washington DC instead.
Meanwhile, American Airlines was selling flights from Tampa to Atlanta yesterday for between $641 and $2,400, with only a couple of seats remaining on each plane.
Tampa Bay has not been hit directly by a major hurricane since 1921, and authorities fear luck is about to run out for the region and its 3.3 million residents.
This is the real deal here with Milton, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told a Monday news conference. If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100 per cent of the time.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida, and US Rep. Kathy Castor said 7,000 federal workers were mobilized to help in one of the largest mobilizations of federal personnel in history.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told reporters Monday afternoon the hurricane was far stronger than what was predicted two days ago.
The Aquatics Division of the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department with about 20 volunteers and local community members served over 2,000 sandbags to over 200 Tampa residents ahead of Hurricane Milton on Monday
Shelves at a grocery store in St Petersburg were empty of bottled water Monday as Hurricane Milton churns in the Gulf of Mexico
Volunteers and local community members in Tampa, Florida load sandbags on Monday in preparation ahead of Hurricane Miltons arrival
A view of Hillsborough River ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Tampa last night
JW Marriott in Marco Island, Florida, used the sand on its beach on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 to protect the property from Hurricane Milton
Scientists expect the system to weaken slightly before it makes landfall Wednesday, though it could retain hurricane strength as it churns across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.
That would largely spare other states ravaged by Helene, which killed at least 230 people on its path from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains.
The Tampa Bay area is still rebounding from Helene and its powerful surge — a wall of water up to 8 feet it created even though its eye was 100 miles offshore.
Twelve people died there, with the worst damage along a string of barrier islands from St Petersburg to Clearwater.
Forecasters warned that Milton could bring a possible eight-to-12-foot storm surge, leading to evacuation orders being issued for beach communities all along the Gulf coast.
In Florida, that means anyone who stays is on their own and first responders are not expected to risk their lives to rescue them at the height of the storm.
Stragglers were a problem during Helene and 2022s Ian. Many residents failed to heed ample warnings, saying they evacuated during previous storms only to have major surges not materialize.
Evacuation orders began at 10am yesterday, with gas and flights selling out as locals began to flee. Traffic was thick on Monday, appearing to be at a standstill, on I-275 northbound heading into Pasco County as residents tried to evacuate
Jay McCoy puts up plywood in preparation for Hurricane Milton on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New Port Richey, Florida
A shrimping boat makes her way back to port as hurricane flags fly at the Davis Islands Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida on Monday
Contractors with the City of New Port Richey help clean debris left by Hurricane Helene in preparation for Hurricane Milton on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New Port Richey, Florida
Noah Weibel and his dog Cookie climb the steps to their home as their family prepares for Hurricane Milton on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Port Richey, Florida
Boats destroyed during Hurricane Helene are shown on the Davis Islands Yacht Basin ahead of the possible arrival of Hurricane Milton Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Tampa, Florida
Heavy traffic begins to back up on Interstate 275 South as residents evacuate St. Petersburg, Florida, ahead of Hurricane Milton on Monday
But there was evidence on Monday that people were getting out before Milton arrives.
A steady stream of vehicles headed north towards the Florida Panhandle on Interstate 75, the main highway on the west side of the peninsula, as residents heeded evacuation orders.
Traffic clogged the southbound lanes of the highway for miles as other residents headed for the relative safety of Fort Lauderdale and Miami on the other side of the state.
About 150miles south of Tampa, Fort Myers Beach was nearly a ghost town by Monday afternoon as an evacuation order took effect.
The few residents who could be found were racing against the clock to safeguard their buildings and belongings. None said they were staying.
Ian devastated the 5,000-resident community two years ago, when its 15-foot storm surge destroyed or severely damaged 400 homes and businesses. Fourteen people died in Fort Meyers as they tried to ride out the storm, and dozens had to be rescued.
A Florida Army National Guard loader moves debris from the Pass-A-Grille section of St. Petersburg on Monday ahead of Hurricane Miltons expected landfall
Images of the dock Chelem and Progreso Yucatán circulate on social media during the passage of Milton
Debris was scattered across the dock Chelem and Progreso Yucatán overnight as Hurricane Milton passed through Mexico
Parts of Chelem and Progreso Yucatán were left flooded Monday night as Hurricane Milton passed through Mexico
Workers place sheets of wood over windows and glass doors to protect them from the strong winds expected with the arrival of Hurricane Milton in the hotel zone of Cancun, Quintana Roo State, Mexico, on October 7, 2024
The signs of Ians devastation remain visible everywhere. Rebuilt homes stand next to others in various states of construction. There are numerous vacant lots, which were once rare.
This whole street used to be filled out with houses, Mike Sandell, owner of Pool-Rific Services. His workers were removing and storing pumps and heaters on Monday from his clients pools so they would not get destroyed.
Home construction supplies like bricks, piping and even workers outhouses lined the streets, potential projectiles that could do further damage if a surge hits.
