Tampa Mayor Jane Castor issued a blunt warning to those who don't follow evacuation orders as Hurricane Milton hurtles toward Florida's Midwest coast, reminding residents they are no match for the devastating storm surge. He clearly stated that: It will be your coffin.
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall just south of Tampa late Wednesday night into Thursday evening, with the National Hurricane Center warning that storm surge could reach 15 feet in some areas and prompting evacuation orders. It's out.
WATCH — Milton evacuation: Florida traffic jams as residents evacuate:
The report warned that “widespread destructive storm surge is expected along portions of the west-central coast of the Florida peninsula.”
“If you are in a storm surge warning area, this is an extremely life-threatening situation and the time to evacuate is near.”
Mayor Castor sent a similar message.
“I've said many times that I want to take on Mother Nature, and she's winning 100 percent,” Castor cautioned, adding perspective to these numbers.
“And the people who are in here say you're in a one-story house. The top of that house is 12 feet. So if you're in it, basically that means you're in It’s a coffin,” she said. said.
This isn't the first time Castor has issued an outspoken warning. In an interview on Monday, she warned: “I can tell you without any dramatization that if you choose to remain in the evacuation zone, you will die,” Castor said, adding that he had never issued such a warning before.
According to CNN Police Chief Paul Murphy: repeated“If you're here, they can't get you.” Murphy said authorities are also instructing residents to write their names and dates of birth on their arms in anticipation of dire consequences. said.
“It's the same message we're hearing from officials: write your name, write your number, write someone else's number, write your date of birth,” Murphy said. Ta. “Because when they come looking for you, they want to know who to contact because you have decided to stay.”
Attention — High Ground: Fort Myers parking lot full of Milton evacuees:
@PorcelliRon /TMX
On Wednesday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis said there was still time for people to evacuate and made clear they didn't have to go far to find safety.
“All of these counties have multiple shelters that are open. There is plenty of space in those shelters right now, and it's much easier to get there than it is to get on the interstate where the roads are still open. “It's certainly safer to do a very short evacuation 10 miles away,” he said.
Latest information from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 11 a.m. ET. added This warning: “If you are in a storm surge warning area, this is a very life-threatening situation. If you are directed to evacuate by local authorities, your time to evacuate is quickly coming to an end.”
The latest tracks as of 11 a.m. ET are below.
