Hurricane Milton is almost here. Here's how to get help evacuating.
Hurricane Milton is fast approaching Florida, with the historic storm expected to make landfall on Wednesday. If you are in its path, you need to leave immediately.
Speaking to CNN, Tampa mayor Jane Castor urged people in the evacuation zones to get out, warning that it won't be possible to simply ride out Hurricane Milton.
"There's never been one like this," said Castor. "This is literally catastrophic, and I can say without any dramatisation whatsoever [that] if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you're going to die."
While it may be tempting to stay in your home, you need to get out right now. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Hurricane Milton is on track to become the worst storm to hit the Tampa area in over 100 years, and is unlike any previous storms residents may have weathered. Milton "explosively" intensified from Category 1 to 5 in less than 24 hours, becoming the second fastest hurricane to ever do so, hitting wind speeds of 180 mph.
Hurricane Milton's storm surge is expected to reach over 10ft in some areas as well. In comparison, last month's Hurricane Helene reached over 6ft and incurred a confirmed death toll of over 200, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since Katrina killed over 1,800 people in 2005.
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The NWS has warned that you should plan to be in a safe place outside the evacuation zones by Tuesday night. You may not even have to travel very far, with the difference of just a few dozen miles potentially enough to save your life. You should prepare to be more patient than usual on the roads though, with traffic more congested than usual due to hordes of people trying to leave the area. Florida has suspended road tolls and opened roadway shoulders to assist the evacuation.
"HEED EVACUATION ORDERS," NWS posted to X on Monday night (emphasis original). "RUN FROM THE WATER, HIDE FROM THE WIND."
Unfortunately, evacuating is much more difficult for people who are older or have mobility issues. The Tampa Bay Times reports that many of those killed by Hurricane Helene were contending with such challenges, and ultimately did not leave the mandatory evacuation zones.
How to get help evacuating ahead of Hurricane Milton
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has set up a helpline for anyone who needs evacuation assistance. Simply call 800-729-3413 at any time between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Note that this is a separate service from the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL), which has also been activated and is available 24/7. SAIL provides information such as road closures, available shelters, and what you should do to prepare, and is contactable on 1-800-342-3557.
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A free shuttle and shelter system is running to help people in some areas which have been ordered to evacuate. Running on Tuesday, the shuttle service will cover Pinellas, Pasco, and Hillsborough Counties, and requires no reservation. Its schedule can currently be found on the FDEM website.
FDEM has partnered with Uber to provide free rides for people travelling to and from storm shelters in evacuating counties as well. To use this service, just add promo code "MILTONRELIEF" in your Uber app's Wallet.
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As of writing, mandatory evacuation orders are in place in Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Volusia Counties, with Hernando County expected to join that list on Tuesday morning. Voluntary evacuation orders have been issued for low-lying areas and mobile homes in Glades and Okeechobee Counties, while those in Sarasota County have been instructed to implement their storm plan.
Those in Florida should refer to their local officials for more evacuation information.
A list of storm shelters and whether they're open can be found on the FDEM website. This includes special needs shelters which are better able to care for people with health conditions.
"This will be one of the largest evacuations along our state’s west coast," the Saratosa County Government wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. "Check on your neighbor — work together to prepare."