Florida Prepares for Largest Evacuation in Seven Years As Hurricane Milton Approaches

The state is already recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, with evacuations underway across much of the region.

Florida is preparing for its largest evacuation in seven years as Hurricane Milton threatens to bring the most severe storm surge the state has seen in a century.

Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 51 of Florida's 67 counties. Authorities are urging residents to evacuate before Milton makes landfall, projected to happen around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

"Just go now. Beat the traffic and go now and just go to higher ground," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor told CNN, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Local officials across several counties have issued mandatory evacuation orders. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody made a stark statement at a Sunday news conference, urging residents to heed warnings. "You probably need to write your name in permanent marker on your arm so that people know who you are when they get to you afterward," she said.

As of late Sunday, Hurricane Milton was located about 230 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and 765 miles southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Forecast models differ, but the most likely scenario predicts Milton will make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday. It is expected to maintain hurricane status as it crosses central Florida and enters the Atlantic Ocean.

This trajectory would spare many of the southeastern states recently battered by Hurricane Helene, which has caused catastrophic damage and claimed at least 230 lives from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains.

Milton is expected to intensify to a Category 3 hurricane within the next 48 hours, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. Forecasters predict rainfall between four and eight inches in cities like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, with some areas potentially receiving up to 15 inches.

The Tampa Bay region could see up to 10 feet of storm surge—nearly double the levels brought by Hurricane Helene, which claimed 12 lives in Pinellas County alone, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Governor DeSantis expressed the gravity of the situation at a Sunday news conference, saying, "I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point." He added that residents have until Tuesday to ensure their hurricane preparedness plans are in place.

"If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave," DeSantis said, noting the potential for significant power outages, possibly worse than those seen during Helene.

Currently, more than 15 million people are under flood watches, and several school districts, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties, have announced closures through Wednesday. Hillsborough County officials said the closures would allow schools to be converted into emergency shelters.

"Given the recent impact of Hurricane Helene, many in our community are still recovering and may find it unsafe to remain in their homes," county officials said in a statement. "If you are in an evacuation zone, please consider using one of our school shelters."

Tampa officials have also opened city garages free of charge for residents to protect their vehicles from floodwaters. Vehicles must be parked on the third floor or higher in these facilities.

Hurricane Milton's arrival comes less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene left thousands of Florida residents stranded in flooded homes. Governor DeSantis has warned that debris from Helene poses a significant risk during Milton’s landfall, prompting him to issue an emergency order requiring landfills and debris management sites to operate 24 hours.

DeSantis has also recalled National Guard and State Guard members from other states where they were assisting with Helene recovery efforts. More than 800 guardsmen are currently engaged in debris removal, and that number will soon rise to 4,000, according to CNN.

"All available state assets are being marshaled to help remove debris," DeSantis said. "We’re going 24-7. It’s all hands on deck."

Florida officials are also deploying emergency fuel and electric vehicle charging stations along evacuation routes, said Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. "We are looking at every potential location that can serve as a refuge of last resort," Guthrie added.

Milton became the Atlantic's 13th named storm of the season on Sunday—earlier than the typical date of October 25 for such storms, according to CNN. It also marks the first time three simultaneous hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic after September, according to hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach from Colorado State University.

Despite these unprecedented conditions, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell reassured the public that the agency is fully prepared for Milton. "We’re working with the state to understand their requirements so we can have those in place before it makes landfall," Criswell said.

The response to Hurricane Helene continues, with federal disaster assistance now exceeding $137 million. More than 1,500 active-duty troops, 6,100 National Guardsmen, and 7,000 federal workers remain deployed, delivering essential supplies, including meals, water, and temporary housing assistance, according to FEMA and the Department of Defense.

"Our response will continue during Milton and its aftermath," FEMA stated, underscoring the agency's ability to handle multiple disasters at once.

US President Joe Biden reaffirmed the federal commitment: "My Administration is sparing no resource to support families as they begin their road to rebuilding," he said. "We will continue working hand-in-hand with local and state leaders—no matter how long it takes."