Florida prepares for evacuations as Milton increases to Category 3 hurricane

Milton has increased to a Category 3 hurricane as the US state of Florida gears up for what could be its biggest evacuation in seven years as the storm heads toward major population centres, including Tampa and Orlando.

The storm was a major hurricane as it moved over the Gulf of Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph), the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said.

While forecast models vary widely, the most likely path suggests Milton could make landfall on Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean.

That would largely spare other south-eastern states ravaged by Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic damage from Florida into the Appalachian Mountains and a death toll that rose on Sunday to at least 230 people.

The Mexican government issued a hurricane warning for the Yucatan Peninsula from Celestun to Rio Lagartos, the centre said.

About seven million people were urged to evacuate Florida in 2017 as Hurricane Irma bore down on the state. The exodus jammed major roads, and led to hours-long queues at petrol stations.

Building on lessons learned during Irma and other previous storms, Florida is staging emergency fuel for petrol vehicles and charging stations for electric vehicles along evacuation routes, Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said at a Sunday briefing.

“We are looking at every potential, possible location that can potentially house someone, as what we refer to in emergency management, as a refuge of last resort,” he added.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis said on Sunday that while it remains to be seen where Milton will strike, it is clear the state is going to be hit hard.

“I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point,” he said.

“You have time to prepare — all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place.

“If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”

With Milton achieving hurricane status, this is the first time the Atlantic has had three simultaneous hurricanes after September, according to Colorado State University hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach. There have been four simultaneous hurricanes in August and September.

The St Petersburg-Tampa Bay area is still cleaning up extensive damage from Helene and its powerful storm surge. Twelve people perished as Helene swamped the coast, with the worst damage along the narrow, 20-mile string of barrier islands that stretch from St Petersburg to Clearwater.

Mr DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration on Sunday to 51 counties and said Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruption, making sure they have a week’s worth of food and water and are ready to hit the road.

In the aftermath of Helene, US President Joe Biden said: “My Administration is sparing no resource to support families as they begin their road to rebuilding.

“We will continue working hand-in-hand with local and state leaders – regardless of political party and no matter how long it takes.”