Hurricane Milton live updates: Thousands evacuate as Florida braces for monster storm

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Milton strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane late Tuesday afternoon as it moved toward western Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis warned state residents that they were “running out of time” to evacuate.

“Maybe you have a window where it’s safe, maybe you don’t,” he said. “So use today as your day to finalize and implement the plan that will keep you and your family safe.”

His warning comes after Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told CNN on Monday that residents will die if they are not evacuated as Hurricane Milton barrels toward the state’s west coast.

Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of the Sunshine State nearly two weeks ago, was a “wake-up call,” she said. Milton could be “literally catastrophic,” Castor added.

The potentially “once in a lifetime” storm quickly strengthened from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of more than 180 mph on Monday before weakening to a Category 4 on Tuesday.

The National Hurricane Center has warned that Milton could regain strength and increase in size, posing an “even greater threat” as it is expected to reach Florida on Wednesday evening and crash into densely populated Tampa Bay.

President Joe Biden agreed to an emergency declaration on Monday after pledging “life-saving resources in advance of the storm” the day before.