More than 5.5 million people evacuated in Florida due to Cyclone Milton
[Regnum] Millions of people have left their homes in the US state of Florida to escape the approaching cyclone Milton, The New York Times wrote on October 9.
"More than 5.5 million people have been forced to flee Florida's west coast, one of the largest evacuations in state history," the report says.
The evacuation in the state began on October 7, with the number of cars on the roads increasing by 1.5 times. The next day, the flow increased. Even those who stayed in place during previous storms decided to leave.
Milton threatens the densely populated Tampa Bay region, which has not been directly impacted by a hurricane in more than a century. The storm is expected to make landfall late on Oct. 9 or early on Oct. 10.
Local authorities urged people to evacuate as quickly as possible and go to nearby shelters. Tolls on the roads were abolished and traffic was allowed on the shoulders.
As reported by Regnum News Agency, a state of emergency has been declared in the state of Florida, in accordance with the order of US President Joe Biden. The region will receive assistance at the federal level. Milton is expected to reach the Florida Peninsula on October 9 or 10. Destructive waves over three meters high are predicted on the West Coast, including Tampa Bay.
Climatologists have suggested that Milton could strengthen to a category six storm, which does not yet officially exist. According to Roman Vilfand, scientific director of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center, Milton could cause the greatest destruction in history, as it exceeds the power of Katrina in 2005.
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Forecaster Shuvalov called Milton a hurricane of colossal force
Hurricane Milton, approaching the American state of Florida, will have colossal strength and may receive a yet non-existent danger class. This was stated on October 9 by the head of the Meteo forecasting center Alexander Shuvalov.
According to him, the maximum wind speed of this hurricane reaches 260-270 km/h, although at 150 km/h people are knocked off their feet. Moreover, "Milton" will bring with it a very large set of unpleasant phenomena.
"Firstly, this is a fantastically large amount of precipitation, up to 50 centimeters in certain places. Wind speed, surge wave up to 4-5 meters high, that is, the first floors are completely clearly covered," Shuvalov said during a press conference.
Due to its colossal destructive power, Milton could be assigned a sixth level of danger, of which there have been five to date.
The hurricane is currently forecast to be heading toward central Florida, but it is difficult to say where it might move. The danger zone is a fairly narrow strip, but authorities have forced about 6 million people to evacuate due to a possible shift to the north or south, the forecaster added.
As reported by Regnum News Agency, according to the assessment of the scientific director of the Russian Hydrometeorological Center Roman Vilfand, Milton is more powerful than Hurricane Ivan the Terrible, which passed through the Caribbean in 2004, and even Katrina of 2005, which caused the most extensive damage to the United States. According to the forecaster, the new hurricane could become the most destructive in history.
The hurricane is threatening the densely populated Tampa Bay region of Florida. The storm is expected to make landfall late on Oct. 9 or early on Oct. 10. More than 5.5 million people have already fled their homes, The New York Times reported.
Even more from regnum.ru
Vilfand assessed the destructive power of Hurricane Milton
Tropical cyclone Milton, moving toward the American state of Florida, could cause the greatest destruction in history. This was stated by the scientific director of the Hydrometeorological Center of Russia Roman Vilfand.
He estimates that Milton is more powerful than Hurricane Ivan the Terrible, which hit the Caribbean in 2004, and even Katrina in 2005, the most destructive hurricane in U.S. history.
“We will need to evaluate it later based on the destruction and speed, but right now, according to the forecast, this is the impression,” Vilfand told RIA Novosti.
The destruction from such a strong hurricane will be most powerful, and it cannot be avoided. It is possible to minimize losses and try to evacuate as many residents as possible. We are talking about millions of lives, the forecaster added.
| Lord Garth’s final comment on the subject in yesterday’s thread: |
Some ferocious precipitation rates have been recorded with 3, 4 and even 5" of rain in an hour. The highest wind I saw reported was 86 mph but no doubt other reports have yet to come in. Again I have not seen reports of severe storm surge but as it is night we will have to wait for morning to ascertain what happened on that issue.
