Florida is preparing for massive evacuations as Hurricane Milton strengthens

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is preparing for what could be its largest evacuation in seven years as Hurricane Milton strengthens over warm waters and heads toward major population centers such as Tampa and Orlando.

About 7 million people were ordered to evacuate Florida in 2017 as Hurricane Irma hit the state. The exodus clogged highways, led to hours-long lines at gas stations that still had fuel and left evacuees frustrated and, in some cases, even resentful never evacuate again.

Hurricane Milton was centered late Sunday evening about 230 miles (370 kilometers) west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and 765 miles (1,235 kilometers) west-southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph), the National Hurricane Center reported.

While forecast models vary widely, the most likely path suggests Milton could make landfall on Wednesday Tampa Bay area and remains a hurricane moving over central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. This would largely spare other southeastern states devastated by the disaster Hurricane Helenewhich caused catastrophic damage from Florida the Appalachians and the death toll rose to at least 230 people on Sunday.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys and the northwestern Bahamas should monitor the system’s progress, the hurricane center said. Heavy rains were expected on Sunday ahead of the hurricane, which would then likely be combined with rains from Milton to flood waterways and roads in Florida, where forecasters said up to 30 centimeters of rain could fall in places by Wednesday night.

Building on lessons learned from Irma and other previous storms, Florida is providing emergency fuel for gas vehicles and charging stations for electric vehicles along evacuation routes, Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said at a briefing Sunday.

“We are looking at any potential, possible location where someone can potentially be housed as a sanctuary of last resort,” Guthrie added.

Hurricane Milton is rapidly strengthening and will likely become a major hurricane before it hits the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast during the week.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that while it remains to be seen where Milton will strike, it is clear the state will be hit hard.

“I don’t think there’s a scenario where we don’t have a major impact at this point,” he said.

“You have time to prepare — all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to make sure your hurricane preparedness plan is implemented,” DeSantis said. “If you are on the barrier islands on the west coast of Florida, just assume you will be asked to leave the country.”

With Milton reaching hurricane status, this is the first time since September that the Atlantic has experienced three simultaneous hurricanes, according to hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University. There were four simultaneous hurricanes in August and September.

The St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay region is still repairing extensive damage from Helene and its powerful storm surge. Twelve people died when Helene flooded the coast. The worst damage occurred along the narrow, 20-mile (32-kilometer) series of barrier islands stretching from St. Petersburg to Clearwater.

DeSantis expanded his emergency declaration to 51 counties on Sunday, saying Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruptions and make sure they have a week’s worth of food and water and are ready to hit the streets.

“We are preparing for the largest evacuation we have ever experienced, most likely since 2017. Hurricane IrmaGuthrie said.

People who live in homes built after Florida tightened regulations in 2004, who do not rely on constant power and who are not in evacuation zones should probably avoid the streets, Guthrie said.

All classes and school activities in Pinellas County in St. Petersburg were closed Monday through Wednesday as a precautionary measure as Milton approached. Officials in Tampa opened all city garages for free to residents in hopes of protecting their cars, including electric vehicles, from flooding. Vehicles must be parked in any garage on the third floor or higher.

Up to 4,000 National Guard troops are helping state crews clear debris, DeSantis said, directing Florida crews deployed to North Carolina in Helene’s aftermath to return to Milton to prepare.

“All available state resources … will be mobilized to assist with debris removal,” DeSantis said. “We’re on duty 24/7… it’s all hands on deck.”

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell defended her agency’s response to the hurricane’s destruction after Republicans false claimsreinforced by former President Donald Trump, created a madness of misinformation in destroyed communities.

“This kind of rhetoric is not helpful to people and it’s really a disgrace that we’re prioritizing politics over helping people,” Criswell told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. It has created fear and distrust among residents of the thousands of FEMA workers and volunteers on the ground in the Southeast, she said.

Still, Criswell said the agency is already preparing for Milton long before it’s clear where the storm will move across the Florida peninsula this week.

“We’re working with the state there to understand what requirements they’re going to have so we can implement those before they land,” she said.

Federal disaster assistance has exceeded $137 million since the Helene attack more than a week ago, one of the largest mobilizations of personnel and resources in recent history, FEMA said Sunday.

Approximately 1,500 active-duty soldiers, more than 6,100 National Guardsmen and nearly 7,000 federal employees were deployed to transport more than 14.9 million meals, 13.9 million liters (3.6 million gallons) of water, 157 generators and 505,000 tarps and More than $30 million was provided for housing and other types of assistance to over 27,000 households, according to FEMA, the White House and the Department of Defense.

More than 800 people unable to return home remain in FEMA-provided shelters and 22 emergency shelters are still housing nearly 1,000 people, while mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors. The response to Helene will not slow down during Milton and its aftermath because of FEMA’s ability to handle multiple disasters simultaneously, the agency said.

“My administration is sparing no resources to support families on their road to recovery,” Biden said. “We will continue to work hand in hand with local and state leaders – regardless of political party and no matter how long it takes.”