- By Abhishek Sheoran
- Wed, 09 Oct 2024 07:47 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Hurricane Milton is expected to wreak havoc as it moves towards the Tampa Bay coast in Florida. Authorities have issued evacuation orders for coastal areas ahead of the storm's landfall, with over a million people urged to move to safer locations. This massive hurricane comes less than two weeks after the destruction caused by Hurricane Helen.
Milton is forecasted to hit the coast on Wednesday, posing a significant threat to Florida’s densely populated western coastline. According to the US National Hurricane Center, Milton could become one of the most destructive hurricanes ever recorded in west-central Florida. Coastal areas to the north and south of Tampa Bay will likely experience waves ranging from 10 to 15 feet.
Rainfall predictions range between 127 mm and 254 mm or more, raising concerns about potential floods. The storm has already caused major disruptions to air travel, with delays affecting over 900 domestic and international flights and around 700 flights cancelled. Over 1,500 flights scheduled for Wednesday have also been cancelled precautionary.
In light of the impending disaster, the White House announced that President Joe Biden has postponed his planned visit to Germany and Angola, originally scheduled for October 10-15.
President Biden has urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate immediately, emphasising that this is a life-and-death situation.
He remarked that Hurricane Milton could be the most devastating storm to hit Florida in over a century. "I pray it doesn’t happen, but it looks like it might," Biden stated. He has already approved emergency declarations for the state of Florida.
