Hurricane Milton Makes Landfall as a Category 3 Storm in Florida

Siesta Key, The Gulf Observer: Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on Wednesday as a powerful Category 3 storm, according to the US National Hurricane Center. At the time of landfall, Milton was located approximately 185 kilometers southwest of Orlando, with maximum sustained winds reaching 205 kilometers per hour.

The hurricane struck a Florida region still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which resulted in severe damage to coastal communities and claimed over 230 lives. As Milton approached, officials issued urgent evacuation warnings, stressing the grave danger of remaining in affected areas.

“This is it, folks,” warned Cathie Perkins, emergency management director in Pinellas County, situated on the peninsula that forms Tampa Bay. “Those of you who were punched during Hurricane Helene, this is going to be a knockout. You need to get out, and you need to get out now.”

By late afternoon, some officials indicated that the window for evacuation had closed, with several counties announcing the suspension of emergency services. “Unless you really have a good reason to leave at this point, we suggest you just hunker down,” advised Polk County Emergency Management Director Paul Womble during a public update.

As the storm approached, multiple tornadoes were reported across Florida, acting as ominous precursors to Milton’s impact. Videos shared on social media captured large funnel clouds forming over neighborhoods in Palm Beach County and other areas of the state.

Milton had fluctuated in intensity but was classified as a Category 3 hurricane by Wednesday evening. Forecasters anticipated that it would remain a hurricane as it traversed the state, affecting heavily populated regions, including Orlando, through Thursday.

The storm posed a significant threat to communities still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s flooding and destruction. In preparation for Milton’s arrival, municipalities along the coast scrambled to clear debris from recent storms to mitigate further damage from high winds and storm surges.

At a news conference in Tallahassee, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the deployment of extensive resources to assist with the storm response. This included 9,000 National Guard members from Florida and neighboring states, over 50,000 utility workers from locations as far as California, and highway patrol vehicles to escort gasoline tankers replenishing fuel supplies for evacuating residents.

“Unfortunately, there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that,” DeSantis stated, acknowledging the storm’s potential impact on life and safety in the affected regions.