Hurricane Milton: Traffic Paralysis, Fuel Shortages, and American Supermarkets Running Out of Stock
Many People Remain Trapped in Florida Despite Emergency Evacuation Orders Due to Hurricane Milton
Traffic in the area is paralyzed, airports have suspended operations, gas stations are running dry, and supermarkets are continuously out of stock.
According to the U.S. National Forecast Center, on the afternoon of October 8, Hurricane Milton, after weakening, regained its strength and became a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds reaching up to 265 km/h.
The agency warned that Milton might fluctuate in intensity but would remain a major and dangerous hurricane as it makes landfall in Florida on the night of October 9. Six million residents in the state have been warned that they are in the affected zone.
On the morning of October 8, traffic came to a standstill along Florida’s interstate highways right after officials in the Tampa Bay area issued evacuation warnings, as the storm, considered the strongest on the planet this year, approached.
However, many residents reported that they could not evacuate, fearing that going on the road would be more dangerous since the traffic situation has already become severely congested. There is no telling when they might reach a safe shelter, and they may still be “stuck” on the road when the hurricane hits.
Due to storm concerns, people have rushed to supermarkets to stock up on supplies. Clean water, toilet paper, and bread have all sold out as Hurricane Milton approaches.
All gas stations have run out of fuel. A woman whose son lives in Hernando, Florida, shared that her son is currently trapped.
“Every gas station is empty, and the roads are completely blocked, leaving my son with no options. This is truly terrifying; I’m extremely worried for him,” she told CNN.
“I’m right in the path of Hurricane Milton. My town is being evacuated, but gas is completely gone, and the roads are gridlocked. What am I supposed to do?” a resident of Sarasota, Florida, said.
In addition, many people are feeling desperate, stating that they cannot afford the costs of evacuating out of the state. “So many people have told me in the past few hours that they simply can’t afford to leave when the storm hits,” another resident shared.
Tampa Bay International Airport announced that it would stop all flights at 9 a.m. on October 8 (local time). St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport also announced that it is in a mandatory evacuation zone and will shut down after its last flight departs on October 8.
The U.S. National Forecast Center emphasized that Hurricane Milton is a very serious storm, and residents in Florida should strictly follow the orders from local emergency management officials. Milton is likely to become one of the most destructive storms ever recorded for the west-central Florida region.
President Joe Biden also stressed: “This could be the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century.”
The White House leader urged those in the danger zones to evacuate immediately to safe areas. “If your area is under an evacuation order, you need to leave immediately. This is a matter of life and death. I am not exaggerating,” Biden stated.
President Biden also decided to cancel his trips to Germany and Angola to stay in the country and handle the response to Hurricane Milton.
The storm is expected to hit Florida while the state is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene just two weeks ago. That Category 4 storm made landfall in Florida on September 26, claiming over 200 lives and causing billions of dollars in damage across six states.