Yesterday marked the last chance for millions of people in the Tampa metro area to prepare for lethal storm surges, ferocious winds and possible tornadoes in a place that has narrowly avoided a head-on blow from a major storm for generations.
“Today’s the last day to get ready,” said Craig Fugate, a former Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) director who previously ran the state’s emergency operation division. “This is bringing everything.”
Governor Ron DeSantis said the state deployed over 300 dump trucks that had removed 1,300 loads of debris left behind by Hurricane Helene. In Clearwater Beach, Nick Szabo spent a second long day hauling away 3-foot piles of soggy mattresses, couches and drywall after being hired by a local resident who was eager to help clear the roads and unwilling to wait for overwhelmed city contractors. “All this crap is going to be missiles,” he said. “It’s like a spear coming at you.”
After weakening slightly, Milton regained strength yesterday afternoon and became a Category 5 storm again, with winds of 165mph (265 kmph). It could make landfall on Wednesday night local time in the Tampa Bay area, which has a population of more than 3.3 million people.
Esta historia es de la edición October 09, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición October 09, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
'Moving to Texas has made everything exciting again'
Team GB sprinter Dina Asher-Smith tells Lawrence Ostlere that a coaching shake-up and new base is already paying off
Chelsea entertain with solid win over flashy Real
If Chelsea are on a “new journey” in the Women’s Champions League, it began in intermittent deluges of rain and in front of a sparse home crowd at Stamford Bridge.
Solanke on the verge of ending his 2,522-day wait
Dominic Solanke made his England debut in 2017 as a young Liverpool striker. That second cap hasn't arrived yet but, he tells Lawrence Ostlere, he's ready to make up for lost time
Water companies ordered to pay £158m to customers
Water companies will have to pay a £157.6m penalty after missing key targets on reducing pollution, leaks and supply interruptions while customer satisfaction continues to fall, Ofwat has said.
Hit and myth: the private who could have shot Hitler and saved 70 million lives
'Horrible Histories' author Terry Deary is back with a new book that examines the greatest hits (and misses) of British history including this remarkable First World War tale
Putin 'demolishes holiday home out of fear for his life'
Vladimir Putin has demolished his holiday villa by the Black Sea after he stopped visiting the area out of fear for his life relating to strikes from Ukraine, a Russian opposition website has claimed.
Scientist who warned of AI threat awarded Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to two researchers who helped build the foundations of the artificial intelligence that surrounds us today.
McCann suspect is cleared.of unrelated rape charges
The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case, convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Brueckner, has been acquitted of unrelated sexual abuse charges in a German court.
Residents flee as Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida
Florida residents streamed out of the Tampa Bay region yesterday ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Trump 'called Putin seven times since leaving office'
Donald Trump has reportedly spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin as many as seven times since leaving the White House.
