Support Florida T-shirts – Help them overcome the hardship – Time to evacuate is running out as Hurricane Milton closes in on Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — As Hurricane Milton roared towards the west coast of Florida on Wednesday, officials warned of a potentially devastating impact, while some residents vowed to stay put despite widespread evacuation orders that affected millions. Authorities made it clear that those who chose to stay behind would be facing perilous odds of survival.

The Tampa Bay area, home to over 3.3 million people, braced for the possibility of unprecedented destruction, having been spared from direct hits by major hurricanes for over a century. According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton, once a Category 5 hurricane, was expected to weaken but still remain a significant threat when it made landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. “Milton could be one of the most catastrophic hurricanes to ever hit west-central Florida,” the center warned.

By early Wednesday, Milton was located roughly 300 miles (485 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, packing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph). The storm was advancing northeast at 14 mph (22 kph), with an anticipated increase in speed as it moved toward the coast. Landfall was projected late Wednesday or early Thursday morning, with a shift toward the east-northeast and east expected on Thursday and Friday.

Ahead of the hurricane, heavy rain had already started to drench parts of southwestern and west-central Florida. The situation was expected to worsen throughout the day, with rainfall totals of 6 to 12 inches (15 to 31 centimeters) across central and northern Florida, and some areas potentially seeing up to 18 inches (46 centimeters). The deluge posed a severe risk of catastrophic flash flooding, significant urban flooding, and moderate to major river flooding. Tornadoes were also a growing concern, particularly across central and southern Florida.

Forecasters predicted that Milton would retain hurricane strength as it moved across central Florida on Thursday, heading eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean. While the storm’s exact path remained uncertain, projections had shifted slightly south of Tampa by Tuesday evening.

As the storm approached, thousands of vehicles clogged the highways in a last-minute effort to escape, but by Wednesday, the window for safe evacuations was rapidly closing. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor emphasized the gravity of the situation, warning that the predicted storm surge of up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) could submerge entire homes

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