Tallahassee, Florida — If you're driving down Interstate 10 from Jacksonville toward Florida's capital, you'll notice that branches and trunks of large fallen trees still line the road. These are reminders of Hurricane Helen, which passed through the region less than two weeks ago, and the state is already preparing for another hurricane that looks like Helen might be a walk in the park.
Hurricane Milton has been described as a once-in-a-lifetime hurricane because of how it formed in the western Gulf of Mexico and how quickly it developed into a Category 5 storm. It's still too early to say exactly where Milton will make landfall later this week, but many models predict that Milton will hit directly into Tampa Bay, a region that hasn't suffered a direct hit since 1921.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and his administration are back to work in emergency mode, barely catching their breath after dealing with Helen and its aftermath. Sitting at the state's Emergency Operations Center, DeSantis assured Blaze News that everyone who has mobilized over the past few weeks is ready to take on the challenges posed by Hurricane Milton.
“We mobilized all available resources, probably more resources than ever before. … This is a big storm right now. It's stronger than anyone expected. ,” DeSantis explained.
One concerning aspect of Milton is that it is still predicted to be a hurricane as it passes through Florida. That means severe winds and flooding could be seen as far away as Orlando and Jacksonville. DeSantis said these areas will not be forgotten in the cleanup efforts.
“More than 30,000 transmission workers will be deployed to restore power as soon as the storm passes and it is safe to do so. We have mobilized 2.4 million people. [power] We completed Hurricane Helen recovery efforts in record time. This storm could cause more power outages, perhaps even more significantly depending on its path across the Florida peninsula. ” DeSantis continued, “They are ready for it.”
“They were one of the first outfits to appear in western North Carolina. They certainly defeated the federal government there.”
For now, the state is racing against time until Milton can arrive to clear the debris in the Tampa Bay area caused by Helen. While state officials have made significant progress in securing loose trash, officials are working 24/7 to remove as much trash as possible from the streets to prevent further damage. Crews removed a large amount of debris, a process that typically takes months, but countless pieces of debris still remain, and the short time between Helen and Milton meant that by the time Milton made landfall, this amount of debris would have been destroyed. The area is not expected to be completely cleared.
In addition to the Florida National Guard, the reactivated Florida National Guard under DeSantis also tested Herren in both Florida and North Carolina.
“They were incredible. They saved lives and made a difference here in Florida. They certainly did a short stint in North Carolina. … They were the first to be deployed to western North Carolina. They certainly defeated the federal government there and now they're here and ready if needed,” DeSantis said.
Florida officials stressed Tuesday that while there is still time to evacuate potentially affected areas, that window is closing. Those planning to depart must depart by Wednesday morning. DeSantis said Milton could weaken to a Category 3 storm, but the state expects it to strengthen by the time it reaches the United States.
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