Summary
- Florida’s Gulf Coast is preparing for Hurricane Milton’s near-record winds and massive storm surge.
- The Category 5 storm is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay region, which hasn’t been hit by a major hurricane in over a century.
- Evacuation orders have been issued for beach communities along the Gulf coast due to the potential eight- to 12-foot storm surge.
- Residents are heeding warnings and evacuating, with many heading north or towards Fort Lauderdale and Miami.