Hurricane Milton: Largest evacuation in a decade ordered in Florida as Category 5 storm nears
Hurricane Milton
Citizens in the US state of Florida were warned to evacuate to safer locations due to the impending, life-threatening Hurricane Milton. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Milton was upgradedinto a Category 5 storm in just over an hour on Monday (Oct 7) as the largest evacuation drive in nearly a decadewas pushed by the state, according to a NY Post report.
Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida’s emergency management division, said residents needed to be prepared for the “largest evacuation that we have seen most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma,” when seven million Floridians were ordered to evacuate.
Authorities urged more than 15 million Floridians toleave their homes in the evacuation zone and write their names and personal information on their arms in permanent marker so that their bodies can be identified in the worst-case scenario.
Milton had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph) over the southern Gulf of Mexico. Itcould make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area, and could remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.
“It’s not uncommon to get a hurricane threat in October along the west coast of Florida, but forming all the way in the southwest Gulf and then striking Florida is a little bit more unusual,” saidDaniel Brown, a hurricane specialist at NHC.
Watch |Tropical Storm Milton Gains Hurricane Status
)
World's first once-a-week insulin launched in India: Here's how much it costs
)
Man sucked out of plane window up to shoulders at 20,000ft. Seatbelt and his wife saved him
)
'There are a lot of Ukrainian drones there': As Russia's 'untouchable' assets become Kyiv's new target, Zelensky's joke is Putin's latest nightmare
)
Wimbledon 2026: Jannik Sinner ends Novak Djokovic's dream as Alexander Zverev enters first final
)
Sucked into another dimension? Rumours swirl physicist vanished while working on science of 'being in two places at once'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Can Russia's S-400 Or China's missiles actually shoot down a B-52? Here is how the old bomber stays alive
)
'Brought America to its knees': Indian pandit's anti-US speech goes viral as he attends Khamenei's funeral in Iran
)
Argentina FA investigates suspected cyberattack after controversial FIFA World Cup win against Egypt
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22's nose cone is a different shade of grey
)
'Iran will no longer be bound': Tehran warns US over alleged MoU violations
)
₹2,000: The last of the pink notes face quiet exit as RBI confirms 98.5% of currency returned
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter jets keep mechanical clocks compared to US jets
)
Revenge, warnings and Hormuz talks: Iran sends defiant message after Khamenei's death
)
Why are Indians being forced to buy E20 petrol? Government finally answers | WION Decodes
)
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attend JuJu Smith-Schuster's wedding after their own star-studded nuptials
)
Afghanistan seeks Indian seeds and technology to boost farming and food security
)
Randolph Mantooth, best known for Emergency, dies at 80; tributes pour in
)
‘Unlike anything I had seen in 28 years’: Pentagon releases fourth tranche of UFO files
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter jets show visible body rivets compared to US jets
)
‘Bomb them like never seen before’: Trump says he’s left orders to strike Iran if he is assassinated
)
UK tells female soldiers to double their diet and sleep more to match male soldiers
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Charlie Kirk Assassination: Who is Tyler Robinson’s ‘partner’ Lance Twiggs? How big is his role in the case?
)
Physicist creates 'mini-universe' in lab and proves time is an illusion
)
Medical student from Kerala killed in Uzbekistan; family alleges forced conversion bid
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 10, 2026): Ikka, Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, Balti- Watch these 5 movies and TV shows on Netflix, SonyLiv, ZEE5 and more
)
Satellite images show Iran may be rebuilding nuclear and missile sites damaged in US-Israeli strikes: Report
)
Russia in talks with Turkey over resale of S-400 system to unlock US F-35 jets
)
Afghanistan’s top diplomat in Delhi seeks India’s help in water management, agriculture modernisation
)
Trump imposes fresh sanctions on Iran after Hormuz ship attacks
)
Watch: Over 900 snakes slither through China floodwaters; Typhoon Maysak unleashes venomous cobras - one bitten
)
Man claims he travelled to year 3700. Robots had killed 30% of humans. Here is what else he says he saw
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter jets space engines far apart compared to US jets
)
Build Chennai airport at approved Parandur site or find alternative: BJP to TVK Govt
)
Viral pic! Shubman Gill's Wimbledon Royal Box appearance with Sachin Tendulkar takes internet by storm
'Destruction could be compounded'
Hurricane Milton comes in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene which killed at least 230 people during its sojourn to theAppalachian Mountains through northern Florida.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned of a potentially higher storm surge and more power outages from Milton compared to Helene, and said destruction from Helene could be compounded.
"There are some areas with a lot of debris that is there, so if you get hit with a major hurricane, what's going to happen to that debris? It's going to increase the damage dramatically," DeSantis said.
"This is all hands on deck to get that debris where it needs to be."
The Tampa Bay area is still recovering from the extensive damage cause by Helene. At least 12 people had perished in the area with a string ofbarrier islands that stretch from St. Petersburg to Clearwater facing the most destruction.
(With inputs from agencies)