Officials are delivering severe warnings as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida’s west coast. The storm’s maximum sustained winds have ranged from Category 4 to Category 5, with the latest winds of 155 mph.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Tampa late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, meteorologists say. Now, the state is prepared for catastrophic devastation, and the projected storm surge, which will be deadly, has prompted evacuation orders in liable areas.
Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa emphasized the seriousness of the matter. On the way, she said the bad weather was nothing but disastrous.
“Helene was a wake-up call; this is literally catastrophic,” Castor stated. “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die.” But she stressed that locals should not hesitate to follow evacuation orders.
The storm is so huge and so destructive, Castor said. The National Hurricane Center also says it is a substantial hazard.
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Storm surges in Manatee County are anticipated to reach 15 feet, according to the NHC. This is a serious problem for Zone A because inundation occurs at only 11 feet.
The National Hurricane Center has called the surge situation as “extremely life-threatening.” Waiting until the storm arrived would leave them little time to evacuate, they advised urgent action.
Despite these warnings, one institution stands firm: Manatee County Jail. Zone A evacuation zone is home to the prison, which holds some 1,200 inmates.
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Everyone in this zone and in Zone B has been ordered by local authorities to leave. But at Tuesday afternoon’s jail, inmates were staying put.
What’s the reason? The prison can withstand previous storms without flooding, officials say. But they think the existing plan — stockpiling supplies and sandbags — will suffice.
Manatee County’s Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske justified the evacuation orders. The hurricane was expected to be ferocious, she said.
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“Milton is anticipated to cause more storm surge than Helene,” she said. “So, if you stayed during Helene and got lucky, I would not press my luck with this particular system.”
The deputy at the Manatee County Jail warned her, but said convicts wouldn’t be transferred unless there was flooding. If they need to move prisoners to the building’s top floor, then they want such a case.
The debate has only been fueled by the fact that experts are worried about the severity of Hurricane Milton. Some scientists are now suggesting a new hurricane category because the storm’s strength, which had reached 180 mph, is now a bit lower.
In a research published earlier this year, retired federal scientist Jim Kossin and climate scientist Michael Wehner advocated establishing a “Category 6” to account for storms that exceed 192 mph. Recent hurricanes had already reached this imaginary level, the pair saw.
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In a research published earlier this year, retired federal scientist Jim Kossin and climate scientist Michael Wehner advocated establishing a “Category 6” to account for storms that exceed 192 mph. Recent hurricanes had already reached this imaginary level, the pair saw.
This tendency, they said, is likely due to more intense storms as the climate warms. The jail’s decision not to evacuate has been met with controversy, with guards expected to remain on site during the storm.
Milton is expected to grow to double its size before landfall, and its impact will be much greater. It includes devastating winds, deadly storm surges and torrential rain.
It remains to be seen whether the facility’s precautions will withstand what some are describing as a “once-in-a-lifetime” storm.
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