By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Hurricane Milton is rapidly approaching Florida, prompting urgent evacuations in the Tampa Bay area. “This is it, folks,” urged Pinellas County Emergency Management Director Cathie Perkins, as the storm threatens to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday with winds reaching 155 mph.
The hurricane is expected to bring storm surges as high as 15 feet, intensifying the risk of flooding in already vulnerable communities. Governor Ron DeSantis has mobilized 9,000 National Guard members and utility workers to aid evacuation efforts, stating, “We’re approaching that 11th hour. If you need to get someplace safe… the time to do so is now.”
Mandatory evacuations are in place for 11 counties, impacting about 5.9 million people. As heavy rains begin to fall, officials warn that some areas could receive up to 18 inches of rain, creating life-threatening conditions for those who remain behind. Perkins emphasized, “Everybody in Tampa Bay should assume we are going to be ground zero.”
Source: Africanews with AP
