Florida Braces For Hurricane Milton as Evacuation Orders Ramp Up

FLORIDA - Less than two weeks after reeling from Hurricane Helene, Florida faces another powerful storm as Hurricane Milton barrels towards the state.

Milton, currently a Category 5 hurricane, is forecast to make landfall near Tampa Bay by Wednesday.

The storm underwent a rapid transition from Category 4 to Category 5 on Monday, raising concerns about its potential impact.

While some weakening is expected before landfall, forecasters warn it could maintain its strength while crossing Florida.

Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for eight Florida counties: Charlotte, Citrus, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Volusia.

Hernando County will join them with a mandatory evacuation starting Tuesday at 8 a.m.

Voluntary evacuations are in place for Glades, Sarasota, and Okeechobee counties.

President Biden has approved an emergency declaration for Florida, authorizing FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to provide disaster relief funds and support storm response efforts.

FEMA Administrator Criswell is traveling to Florida to coordinate federal response before returning to North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene recovery continues.

Gas shortages have been reported in Tampa and Fort Myers as residents prepare for the storm.

Governor DeSantis has reportedly authorized additional fuel shipments to affected areas.

Several airports, including Tampa International, are expected to shut down temporarily on Tuesday ahead of landfall.

Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida's "Big Bend" region as a Category 4, resulted in at least 230 deaths and widespread damage.

Forecasters predict Milton could bring significantly higher storm surges in the Tampa Bay area compared to Helene.