The United States is in a state of extraordinary alert due to “Hurricane Milton.” Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on the west coast of Florida and was described as one of the most severe hurricanes of the century, had a Category 3 level. While the wind speed was reported to have reached 205 kilometers per hour, the hurricane caused many tornadoes in Florida.
It was announced that at least 125 houses were seriously damaged and approximately one and a half million homes and workplaces were left without electricity. In the disaster, Four people died in Florida. The American National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that the hurricane made landfall in the Siesta Key region of Florida.
Loss of Life and Power Outages in Florida
Hurricane MiltonIt was stated that approximately 2.5 hours after landfall, the wind speed decreased to 165 kilometers per hour and the hurricane decreased to category 2 level. However, this decrease could not prevent numerous tornadoes and significant damage in Florida.
According to CNN television, Florida’s St. Four people died as a result of the tornado in the St. Lucie region. It was reported that approximately one and a half million homes and workplaces were left without electricity.
Meteorological officials warned that sea level could rise up to 4 meters and this could pose a serious danger. Hurricane Milton, which has reached Category 5 level, poses a threat of great destruction with wind speeds of up to 230 kilometers per hour.
State of Emergency Declared: Under Threat in 51 Districts
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis advised citizens not to leave their shelters for their safety and stated that evacuations could be risky at this stage. US President Joe Biden called on the people of the region to evacuate before the hurricane and said, “This is a matter of life and death.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 counties where the hurricane could affect. President Biden, on the other hand, approved the federal disaster declaration in order to be prepared for possible damages. These steps will accelerate the measures to be taken against the hurricane and the recovery process.
According to the statements made by the NHC, storm surge and hurricane warnings were issued in a large area on the west coast of Florida. Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay and St. Areas such as the Johns River are at serious risk.
Mandatory Evacuations Started
Hurricane MiltonDue to ‘s potentially deadly storm surges and high winds, mandatory evacuations have been initiated in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas. Authorities emphasized that evacuation procedures should be accelerated due to the floods and destructive winds that the hurricane may cause.
Feeling unsafe at home, Florida residents lined up to find a spot at the nearest shelters. Especially the majority of the elderly population sought a safe space by settling in school buildings.
Risk of Floods and Destruction Continues
Storm surge and rising sea waters brought by Hurricane Milton could cause life-threatening flooding in many coastal areas of Florida. Meteorologists stated that the regions approximately 30-40 km south of the center of the hurricane could be hit the hardest. Hurricane Milton’s landfall location and intensity stand out as important factors that directly affect the extent of damage in Florida.
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