Faith leaders are asking for prayers for Florida's Gulf Coast as a once-in-a-century hurricane barrels toward the Tampa area, bringing potentially devastating winds and storm surge. Tampa hasn't been hit by a major hurricane since 1921, but that looks set to change late Wednesday and early Thursday when Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane with the potential to exceed 150 mph. Two weeks ago, Hurricane Helen hit the Florida Panhandle.
“This could be one of the worst natural disasters in American history.” said Meteorologist Dylan Federico described the storm's potential impact as “catastrophic.”
#milton A historic hurricane is scheduled to hit Florida tonight.
Catastrophic storm surges will occur along the coast and cause massive wind damage far from the center.
This could be one of the worst natural disasters in American history. #flwx 🌀 pic.twitter.com/QbFkn3O2CT
— Dylan Federico (@DylanFedericoWX) October 9, 2024
Wednesday morning, it was a Category 4 storm with winds of 155 mph and was not expected to weaken much before impact, the agency said. weather channel. There were only two miles left to reach Category 5 status, the highest rating on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane anemometer.
“This powerful storm could devastate areas of Florida where people are already affected. Please pray for them.” said Evangelist Franklin Graham, President of Christian Relief Group samaritan's wallet.
As the old saying goes, when it rains, it pours. Another hurricane is heading towards Florida, Hurricane Milton. This powerful storm could devastate areas of Florida where people are already affected. I pray for their souls. pic.twitter.com/K0wLSz4aok
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) October 8, 2024
Bryant Wright, President of the Southern Baptist Relief Society send reliefHe called on believers to pray for the storm to weaken.
Urgent prayer needed!
As another major hurricane approaches Florida, let's join together in prayer that God will calm this storm and protect those still reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helen. pic.twitter.com/ipShMqvHz9
— Send Relief (@sendrelief) October 8, 2024
“Please join me in praying that God will calm this storm just as Jesus calmed it with his disciples on the Sea of Galilee.
Wright added: “This storm is heading towards major population areas and could cause significant loss of life.”
Tampa, Florida's third-largest city with a population of 400,000, is vulnerable to hurricane strikes due to its unique geographic location on Florida's west coast and general weather patterns that tend to direct hurricanes away from the region. There are very few.
Hurricane Milton is predicted to bring storm surge up to 10 to 15 feet deep, causing life-threatening flooding. Frighteningly, the storm “continues to grow larger as it approaches Florida,” which could cause “wind, storm surge, and rainfall impacts to spread over a wider area both inside and outside the forecast cone,” the Weather Channel reported. . . The effects are even worse. The Florida coast will reach high tide Thursday morning.
The Weather Channel reported, “If the predicted storm surge in Tampa Bay comes true, it will be the highest in more than 100 years.”
Milton then heads across Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Roberto Machado Noa
michael faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His articles have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star, and Knoxville News Sentinel.
