Florida has descended into chaos as it braces for 180mph winds brought on by Hurricane Milton – and 15ft floodwater engulfing buildings across the region.
A livestream has captured eerie scenes across Florida as the state braces for what experts are calling the region’s most devastating storm in living memory. Dark clouds have formed across multiple deserted areas, with the impact of hurricane-force winds already causing some of the livestream’s cameras to aggresively shake.
Millions have already fled their homes to avoid being caught up in the destruction of the the Category 5 storm, which poses a serious danger to life, US government agencies have warned.
The Mayor of Tampa starkly told residents they are “going to die” if they fail to follow mandatory evacuation orders, which were issued ahead of the storm on Monday. Speaking to NBC’s TODAY this morning, she said: “This isn’t a drill. This is the biggest storm that we have certainly seen here in the Tampa area in over a century.
“Whenever that storm surge comes and it’s 10 to 15 feet and people are trying to ride this out in single story structures — there’s no place to go. And when winds get up to hurricane speeds, there’s nobody to come and get you.”
She later bluntly warned stubborn residents refusing to leave, “your house will be your coffin” as floodwater exceeding the height of a double decker bus is set to swallow entire buildings and properties across the county. Castor told her constituents: “So if you’re in it, basically that’s the coffin that you’re in.”
Those staying put were also told they should expect to cope on their own, with first responders not expected to risk their lives to rescue them at the height of the storm. Milton has already swept across the Gulf of Mexico and flooded streets as Florida braces for its arrival in the coming hours.
The sheriff of the county that includes Tampa, where Milton is due to hit in hours, said those staying put in mandatory evacuation zones are “on their own.” Sheriff Chad Chronister of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, told Top Story with Tom Llamas last night: “I don’t know why you’re gambling with your life or the life of your loved one, but realize this storm is going to be different.
“When these wind shear and wind speeds reach a certain speed, I can’t imagine a feeling when someone calls for help and there’s no one coming.”