TAMPA, Fla. — Major gridlock filled the highways, gas stations were quickly running out of fuel, and stores were being emptied of essentials as Hurricane Milton approached Florida’s troubled west coast on Wednesday, an immense storm set to strike one of the state’s most crowded regions.

Millions of exhausted Floridians have been ordered to evacuate, and time is running short. The core of Milton, currently a Category 4 storm with sustained winds reaching 155 mph, is expected to pass over the eastern Gulf of Mexico and hit land late Wednesday or early Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. update.

The storm is projected to traverse the Florida Peninsula and enter the Atlantic Ocean later on Thursday. Milton is anticipated to maintain hurricane status while crossing the state, striking Florida less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene made landfall on the Big Bend coast as a Category 4 storm, leaving much of Florida battered and exposed.

“Milton is predicted to stay a highly dangerous, major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida,” despite expected wind shear that may result in slight weakening, the hurricane center noted in its forecast.

Tampa, a metropolitan area with over 3 million residents, hasn’t experienced a direct impact from a major hurricane in over a century. Storm surges from Milton could elevate water levels by as much as 15 feet above ground, according to the hurricane center.

Updates

∎ As of early Wednesday, Milton was located 250 miles southwest of Tampa, moving northeast at 16 mph, reported by the hurricane center.

∎ Rainfall estimates range from 6 to 12 inches, with some localized areas receiving up to 18 inches, particularly across central to northern parts of the Florida Peninsula until Thursday.

∎ The National Guard is mobilizing aerial, water, and ground search and rescue teams, marking the largest search and rescue deployment in Florida’s history, Governor Ron DeSantis announced.

∎ Approximately 2.8% of the U.S. gross domestic product lies in Milton’s direct path, said Ryan Sweet, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics. Airlines, energy companies, and a Universal Studios theme park have begun to pause their operations in Florida in anticipation of potential disruptions.

Milton’s dimensions might indicate more than just wind speed

While Milton may fluctuate between a Category 4 and Category 5 hurricane, meteorologists assert that this classification does not fully reflect the storm’s capacity for destruction. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale classifies hurricanes based on maximum sustained wind speeds, which range from 74 to 157 mph or more. However, this scale overlooks potentially lethal hazards such as storm surges, rainfall, river flooding, and tornadoes.

Experts are particularly concerned about Milton’s expanding size and the potential for significant storm surges in populated regions—two critical factors that do not influence category ratings.

The situation differed with Hurricane Helene, which posed more risks due to its winds at landfall in a sparsely populated area filled with trees and structures at risk.

“Milton has the potential to be one of the most devastating hurricanes in history for west-central Florida,” the National Hurricane Center cautioned.

− Doyle Rice

FEMA cautions: ‘Avoid spreading incorrect information’

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it is “ready to assist and stands prepared to provide support” to Florida with resource assistance.

“Hundreds of FEMA personnel are currently in Florida aiding in Helene recovery efforts and working with the state to prepare for the impending storm,” the agency declared in a news release.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell refuted former President Donald Trump’s assertions regarding Hurricane Helene’s recovery, expressing her disappointment over the misinformation. FEMA had to clarify misinformation via its website and social media after Trump claimed there were “no helicopters, no rescue” efforts in North Carolina, and alleged that the federal government was only offering $750 to individuals who lost their homes.

— Saman Shafiq

Complaints of price gouging surface in Florida as Milton nears

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has reported receiving over 200 complaints regarding price gouging as thousands of residents prepared to leave due to Hurricane Milton. As of Monday, most of these complaints pertain to fuel and water, according to Kylie Mason, a spokesperson for Moody. The counties with the most complaints are Highlands, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. There have also been scattered reports regarding price gouging for overnight accommodations, including There is an Airbnb listing in Tallahassee for a “room” priced at nearly $6,000 per night.

Mason mentioned, “Our team has already contacted our Airbnb corporate representative and located the property owner. We are providing them with a copy of the price gouging law and informing them of their legal obligations.”

− Ana Goñi-Lessan, Tallahassee Democrat