As Hurricane Milton takes a shot at Florida’s Gulf Coast, the city of Tampa prepares itself against probably one of the most historic storms in more than a century. The winds could reach as much as 160 miles an hour with catastrophic storm surges anticipated in view. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor calls for urgent action as the hurricane heads into landfall, preparedness, and action now.

Understanding the threat of Hurricane Milton

It has since rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane that is threatening to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area. It might weaken to a Category 3 upon making landfall, but the storm will also double in size, therefore giving a huge swath of land some hurricane-force conditions. According to the NHC, the tropical storm-force winds could extend up to 230 miles from the storm’s center and reach regions well outside of Tampa itself.

This is not like any storm, but maybe a historic disaster, Mayor Castor said. “This is literally catastrophic,” she said in a press briefing. She told residents to take the evacuation orders seriously and do all the necessary precautions to stay safe.

Direct orders for urgent evacuation

In preparation for Milton’s landfall, Tampa issued mandatory evacuation orders for Evacuation Zones A and B. Mayor Castor indicated people in those zones should flee immediately: “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die,” she said, while underscoring the storm surge that would come with Milton as deadly.

Evacuations have already caused major traffic buildups as people make their way from the area. News reports also said several gas stations are running out of fuel, adding an extra layer of complexity to the evacuations. Local officials are doing their best to make sure people are aware of which roads are safe to take and where shelters are available.

Preparing for impact

The City of Tampa has activated its EOC, coordinating with local law enforcement and emergency management officials to prepare for the onset of the storm. Property securing and advance gathering of essentials are important, said Mayor Castor as Milton makes landfall.

Aside from calling on the residents to evacuate, she told them to make sure any debris at their houses should be secured against becoming dangerous missiles in the strong winds. “We are still recovering from Hurricane Helene,” she observed while noting the large amount of debris that the recent storm dispersed everywhere in most neighborhoods.

Response and support by the community

With Hurricane Milton, community organizations and city agencies are gearing up with the resources to help people in need. Emergency shelters are opened, and volunteers take the initiative to help the more vulnerable populations, such as seniors and people with disabilities.

Mayor Castor added that keeping informed is an important part of what people should be doing right now. “Also, please sign up for our city’s emergency alerts by texting TAMPAREADY to 888-777. This will give residents real-time information about current storm conditions and other safety information.” 

The bigger picture of federal support

But with Hurricane Milton likely to create havoc, President Biden has declared an emergency to the State of Florida in order to make sure federal support will be provided most promptly, including deploying thousands of federal personnel to support the disaster response effort.

At a briefing with local officials, Senator Rick Scott similarly asked Floridians to take this storm seriously. He was optimistic that, while preparations may seem excessive, they are fitting due to the unprecedented nature of this hurricane.

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