Residents of the US state of Florida are rushing to complete emergency preparations. Someone has already left the house and gone to the shelter. Because, the dangerous cyclone Hurricane Milton is approaching there.
Hurricane Milton has become a powerful category 5 storm. Wind speeds at its center are 165 miles per hour or 270 kilometers per hour. The hurricane is expected to hit Florida at full strength on Wednesday night. Just two weeks after Hurricane Helen's devastation, the state was hit by another disaster.
Bradenton resident Gerald Lemus said, 'Five magnitudes mean you have a giant tornado coming your way.' Lemus is currently staying at a shelter. He said, 'I don't want to stay here. Wherever it hits, it's going to be a life-shattering storm.'
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden yesterday warned Florida residents to leave their homes and go to safe places. Because, it is a matter of 'life and death'. The local administration has already taken the initiative to evacuate the common people from their homes.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said yesterday that dozens of shelters have been prepared in Florida. These shelters have been prepared in safe areas to save local residents from the effects of this monstrous cyclone.
Long lines were seen at gas stations in South Florida. Many stations have already run out of fuel. In this regard, Governor DeSantis said that gasoline is being supplied to the stations to carry out uninterrupted removal operations. Charging stations are installed along the road.
Meanwhile, the White House canceled Biden's trip to Germany and Angola to monitor preparations for Hurricane Milton and ongoing efforts to recover from the damage caused by Helen. Yesterday at the White House, he said, this is going to be the worst hurricane in Florida in the last century. "Evacuate the area now, now, now," he told Florida residents.
Less than two weeks ago, Hurricane Helen ravaged the southeastern United States. It was the deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland since Katrina in 2005. At least 225 people have died. Among them, 14 people died in Florida. Hundreds of people are still missing.
ML Ferguson is struggling to repair his house in Anna Maria, Florida. Her house was badly damaged by Hurricane Helen last month. Ferguson said, 'Hurricane Milton's impact could be much worse than Helen's. My car is beyond repair. We have been laid off. My belongings were also destroyed. I will literally be homeless after this cyclone.'
The National Hurricane Center warned to be prepared to deal with strong winds. Much of the debris left on the road by Hurricane Helen can become airborne and pose a hazard.
The storm is expected to dump up to 15 inches or 38 centimeters of rain in Florida. And there is a risk of 10 to 15 feet high tide in coastal areas.
Counties began issuing removal orders Monday. Tolls have been suspended on roads in West and Central Florida. Schools have been declared closed in many counties since yesterday. Airports in Tampa and Orlando have been suspended until the storm is over.
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