Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph, is barreling towards Florida’s west coast, threatening the densely populated area and forcing millions of residents to evacuate. The storm is expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday before continuing across the Florida Peninsula and moving into the Atlantic Ocean. Despite potential weakening due to wind shear, Milton remains an extremely dangerous hurricane targeting Tampa, a metropolitan area with over 3 million people that has not had a direct hit from a major hurricane in over 100 years. The storm surge from Milton could reach up to 15 feet above ground level.
In response to the impending disaster, the National Guard has mobilized search and rescue teams while companies like airlines, energy firms, and Universal Studios are preparing to halt operations in Florida to mitigate disruptions. FEMA is also on the ground in Florida to support recovery efforts. The agency has received over 200 complaints about price gouging, particularly related to fuel, water, and accommodations as residents prepare to evacuate.
Experts caution that Milton’s potential destructive impact goes beyond its Category 4 classification, with its size and storm surge posing significant threats to populated areas. The hurricane scale, which is based on maximum sustained wind speed, does not fully capture the dangers posed by hurricanes like Milton, which emphasize the need to consider factors like storm surge, rainfall, and tornadoes.
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