FLORIDA, Oct 9: Ahead of Hurricane Milton’s anticipated landfall, more than 5 million residents along Florida’s western coast have been urged to evacuate. US President Joe Biden called on Floridians to heed the warnings, stressing that the Category 5 storm could become the worst natural disaster to hit the state in over a century. The President has postponed his upcoming visits to Germany and Angola as the hurricane approaches.
Local reports indicate that over 20 counties have issued a combination of mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders. Authorities have issued grave warnings, urging residents to comply with evacuation orders as the life-threatening storm approaches. Officials predict that Hurricane Milton will make landfall on Florida’s west coast by Wednesday night, bringing severe weather conditions.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has warned that the storm is expected to bring multiple dangers, including high winds, deadly storm surge, tornadoes, and heavy rain. Emergency healthcare facilities across the state are undergoing the largest evacuation in Florida’s history. Additionally, airlines have canceled hundreds of flights to and from Florida in preparation for the storm.
