‘Very overwhelmed’: Tampa Bay residents face challenges evacuating from Hurricane Milton

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. (WFLA) — Evacuees have been hitting the roads across the Sunshine State ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

Several of these evacuees have been from the Tampa Bay region, like Manatee County Resident Rosemarie Tobin.

“Very overwhelmed, I’ve lived in my home for 18 years, and hoping I have a home to come back to,” she said. “Never had anything this bad.”

Tobin, her husband and their dog stopped for a quick break from driving at the northbound rest stop on I-75 north of the apex.

She lives in a mobile home in Manatee County and has packed up a travel trailer to evacuate to Lake City.

“It’s your life that’s more important than anything,” Tobin said. “I’ve never evacuated before, but this one scares me.”

Other evacuees have been struggling to find a place to hunker down.

“Looking for hotels as we go, so whatever area we find a good hotel,” Sarasota Resident Irina Muratova said. “Everything is booked up.”

For a list of available shelters in Tampa Bay, click here.

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