Hurricane Milton is barreling toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, bringing the threat of fires, gas leaks, and catastrophic flooding. With officials urging evacuations, Floridians are racing to prepare. Here’s how to protect yourself and loved ones from the deadly hazards the storm may unleash. Hurricane Milton is shaping up to be one of the most devastating storms to hit Florida in a century, with officials warning residents to take immediate action. The storm has already gained the highest classification — a Category 5 — packing strong winds and threatening massive storm surges.
But it’s not just the wind and rain that residents must worry about. Experts warn that the aftermath of Hurricane Milton could bring an onslaught of additional dangers. As Floridians prepare for impact, knowing how to handle these hazards is critical to protecting lives and property.
Hurricane Milton poses a severe and complex threat to Florida, with President Joe Biden emphasizing the urgency for residents to evacuate. During a White House briefing, Biden described the situation as a “matter of life and death” and urged Floridians to act swiftly. The Gulf Coast is particularly vulnerable, still reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene just days prior. As Hurricane Milton advances, weather experts have sounded the alarm.
One user on X, formerly Twitter, highlighted the potential strength of the storm, stating, “[…] We need to bring its maximum potential intensity (MPI) into the discussion. “A meteorologist agreed that “Milton can get awfully close to MPI here,” noting the storm’s compact size, which made it less likely to encounter cold water that could slow its progress.
As the storm draws closer, communities in Florida have been left scrambling to prepare. A viral video showed a long line of people on the right in St. Petersburg collecting sandbags to protect their homes from flooding. On the left were piles of debris from Hurricane Helene. Local officials warned, however, that while sandbags could mitigate minor flooding, they would do little to prevent storm surges or major water intrusions. Meteorologists projected that Milton could bring 10 to 15 inches of rain to areas already saturated by Helene, significantly increasing the risk of flooding.
The intensity and impact of Hurricane Milton made it what experts referred to as a compound event, a term used to describe the combined effects of multiple climate hazards happening simultaneously or consecutively. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn noted, “We as a city can train to prepare for evacuation, and we can train to prepare for the cleanup, but we can’t control anything in the middle.” The intensity and impact of Hurricane Milton made it what experts referred to as a compound event, a term used to describe the combined effects of multiple climate hazards happening simultaneously or consecutively.
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