Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm, is set to hit Florida's Gulf Coast late Wednesday, with the U.S. National Hurricane Center warning of a "catastrophic" and "life-threatening" storm surge.
The storm, packing sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph), has prompted evacuation orders for more than 1 million people in coastal areas. Highways were jammed on Tuesday, and fuel shortages hit gas stations, as residents fled the region, still reeling from Hurricane Helene just two weeks earlier.
The Tampa Bay area, home to over 3 million people, is in the storm's direct path, though the trajectory could shift before landfall. Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert expressed concern, stating the city was as prepared as possible but warned the storm would be devastating, especially so soon after the previous hurricane.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were scheduled to be briefed on the storm, with Biden expected to address the nation later in the day.
Officials including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, urged those in evacuation zones to leave immediately, warning of the potential for deadly storm surges of 10 feet (3 meters) or more along Florida's Gulf Coast.
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