TAMPA, Fla. — Hurricane Milton veered toward a potentially catastrophic collision Wednesday along Florida’s west coast, where some residents insisted they would stay put after millions of people were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that those left behind would face long odds for survival.
The Tampa Bay areahome to more than 3.3 million peoplefaced the possibility of widespread destruction after avoiding direct hits from major hurricanes for more than a century. The National Hurricane Center forecast that Milton, a monstrous Category 5 hurricane, would likely weaken during much of its approach but would remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall late Wednesday.
Milton was about 360 miles (580 kilometers) southwest of Tampa early Wednesday with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h), the National Hurricane Center reported.
Forecasters predicted the storm will maintain hurricane strength Thursday as it crosses central Florida on an eastward path toward the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane’s precise path remained uncertain as forecasters shifted its expected path slightly south of Tampa on Tuesday evening.
Thousands of fleeing cars blocked Florida’s highways ahead of the storm, but time for evacuations ran out Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that the expected storm surge of up to 15 feet for her city would be deep enough to engulf an entire house.
“So when you’re in it, that’s basically the box you’re in,” Castor said.
Milton focuses on communities that are still in turmoil two weeks later Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in West Florida during the devastating march, which left at least 230 dead across the South.
In the bayside town of Punta Gorda, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Tampa, streets were still filled Tuesday with 5-foot piles of sodden furniture, clothing, books, appliances and other trash dragged from damaged homes. .
Many houses were empty, but accountant and art collector Scott Joiner remained on the second floor of the New Orleans-style house he built seventeen years ago. Joiner said bull sharks swam in the flooded streets and a neighbor had to be rescued by canoe when Helene passed by and flooded the first floor of his home.
“Water is a blessing to have,” Joiner said, “but it is very deadly.”
Joiner said he planned to do one more lap and finish Milton, despite the risk.
Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders in 11 Florida counties, with a combined population of about 5.9 million people, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Officials have warned that anyone left behind must fend for themselves because first responders are not expected to risk their lives in rescue efforts at the height of the storm.
In Riverview, south of Tampa, several drivers waiting in a long line for fuel Tuesday said they had no plans to evacuate.
“I think we’ll just hang in there, you know – and hang in there,” said Martin Oakes of nearby Apollo Beach. “We’ve raised the shutters. The house is completely ready. So this is kind of the last piece of the puzzle.”
Others took no risks after Helene.
On Anna Marie Island on the southern edge of Tampa Bay, Evan Purcell packed his father’s ashes and tried to catch his 9-year-old cat, McKenzie, as he prepared to leave Tuesday. Helene left him with thousands of dollars in damages when his house flooded. He was afraid Milton would take over the rest.
“I’m still in shock from the first one and now comes round two,” Purcell said. “This just makes my stomach ache.”
State and local governments rushed before the storm to remove piles of debris left in Helene’s wake, fearing that the approaching hurricane would turn loose wreckage into flying missiles. Governor Ron DeSantis said the state deployed more than 300 dump trucks that removed 1,300 loads of debris.
In Mexico, authorities in the state of Yucatan reported minor damage from Milton as it passed just offshore. Power lines, light poles and trees were toppled near the coast and some small thatched-roof structures were destroyed, Yucatan Governor Joaquín Díaz said. He made no mention of any deaths or injuries.
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Spencer reported from Fort Myers Beach. Associated Press writers Curt Anderson and Kate Payne in Tampa contributed to this report; Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale; Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia; Seth Borenstein in Washington and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City.