Tampa Mayor Jane Castor (D) had a blunt and tough message Tuesday night for Floridians who ignore evacuation orders as Hurricane Milton approaches the peninsula.
“The number one message, as has been the case for the past few days, is to be prepared. Do everything you have to do before you leave the evacuation zone.” Caster told CNN. this week.
“Write your name on your arm so we know who you are.”
“Hide from the wind and run from the water,” she continued. “And we're now talking about the possibility of a 10- to 12-foot storm surge hitting us.”
Castor compared the impending Hurricane Milton to the recent Hurricane Helen, which caused a 6-foot storm surge that “literally devastated many people in coastal communities.” pointed out.
She said the congestion on all northbound freeways in the state shows most residents heeded the warnings and got out of Dodge.
CNN's Caitlan Collins asked anchors what they would say to those who chose to ignore evacuation orders and ride out the storm.
Mr Castor warned that Milton would be far worse than any storm the region has seen before.
“Helen is a wake-up call. This is literally a catastrophic situation and I can say without any dramatization that if you choose to remain in the evacuation area you are going to die. “Sho,” Caster said.
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on the Florida coast as early as late Wednesday. The storm is fluctuating between Category 4 and 5 as it approaches landfall.
“Folks, this is it,” Pinellas County Emergency Management Director Kathy Perkins said.
“For those of you who got punched in Hurricane Helen, this is going to be a knockout. You need to get out, and you need to get out now,” she was quoted as saying. Associated Press. “Everyone in Tampa Bay should assume we're going to be ground zero.”
In the days leading up to Hurricane Helen, Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett issued his own dire warning to those who chose to ignore evacuation orders: “Take a black magic marker and write your name, “Please write down your social security number and everything in your notebook.” arms,” allowing authorities to identify the bodies if they did not survive.
Chief of Police William Tokaiger told CNN That residents who refused to evacuate the area because of Milton were acting on their own.
“Maybe you should bring a Sharpie and write your name and social security number on your leg so that if they find you, they can contact you. That wouldn't be good for you.” he said.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a similar message.
“I've heard people say this before: If you decide to stay in an area that took a direct hit, make sure you write your name on your arm so we know who you are,” Moody said. Ta. Fox's LiveNOW.
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