Reaching category 5 (on a scale of 5), Hurricane Milton is worrying American authorities as it approaches the coast of Florida. Monday morning, the hurricane was located 1,100 kilometers from the coast, advancing at a speed of approximately 15 km/h. With winds reaching up to 250 km/h, Milton is expected to hit the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) before continuing its trajectory towards Florida, already severely affected by the destructive passage of Hurricane Helene, which left 15 dead in state and at least 230 victims in several states.
THE US Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that the hurricane had intensified very quickly, moving from category 3 to category 5 in a few hours. Authorities are expecting extremely violent winds, raising huge waves and causing significant flooding. Rainfall is expected to reach 12 to 25 cm in some areas of the state. Some weakening is expected before the hurricane reaches the coast, but Milton “is still likely to be a large and powerful hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida,” wrote Jack Beven, a specialist at the center hurricanes.
Florida on alert again
Florida, which is just recovering from Hurricane Helen, is particularly concerned about Milton’s arrival. “If anyone has the means to do it […] let him hit the road today,” local authorities urged Monday during a press conference, particularly for the populations of the Tampa metropolitan area, an area with around three million inhabitants.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stressed the continued threat of the hurricane, noting that Milton would maintain hurricane status throughout its passage through the state. Faced with this situation, he extended the state of emergency to 51 of Florida’s 67 counties, thus allowing increased mobilization of relief efforts. Preparing for the arrival of the hurricane is also considered crucial.
Hélène’s debris, a safety risk
Governor Ron DeSantis also stressed the urgency of cleaning up the debris left behind by Helen, explaining that it “creates a safety risk and will increase the damage that Milton could cause.” Authorities are preparing for the worst as forecasts align with those of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which had anticipated a particularly active hurricane season this year, with four to seven storms of Category 3 or higher.
In a message to Americans, the president asked Florida residents to listen to the instructions of local officials and “prepare accordingly.” Reaffirming his support, Joe Biden announced on Sunday the deployment of 500 additional soldiers to help disaster victims in North Carolina, bringing the total number of soldiers mobilized to 1,500 alongside thousands of rescuers and members of the National Guard.