Milton intensifies into major Category 5 hurricane as Florida braces for most catastrophic storm

Florida scrambles to evacuate and prepare for its biggest storm in a decade, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene killed at least 230 people. Follow updates.

People in Florida are under urgent warnings to start their largest evacuation in nearly a decade as Hurricane Milton grew to a “life-threatening” Category 5 storm, placing hundreds of thousands of residents still recovering from Hurricane Helene at risk.

Milton is projected to make landfall Wednesday, local time, as a maximum strength category hurricane, likely hitting near the heavily populated Tampa Bay area, the US National Hurricane Centre said.

A resident boards up his windows in Palm Harbor, Florida, ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected mid-week landfall as a Cat. 4 hurricane. Picture: AFP

Storm surge and hurricane watches were issued for Florida’s Gulf Coast as Milton strengthened into a Category 4 storm, and then rapidly grew again into a Category 5 storm in the Gulf of Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 257km/h.

Forecasters are warning of a possible 3.6 metre storm surge.

Florida residents scrambled to get last minute supplies after the governor declared a state of emergency as forecasters warned the US state, still reeling from deadly Hurricane Helene, could be slammed by Category 4 Hurricane Milton. Picture: AFP

“This is the real deal here with Milton,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said at a press conference. “If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100 per cent of the time.”

Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida’s emergency management division, urged residents to be prepared for the “largest evacuation that we have seen most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma.”

“I highly encourage you to evacuate,” Guthrie said during a press conference.

A decapitated palm is seen as a couple walks along the beach in Clearwater, Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected mid-week landfall. Winds are predicted to be 200km/h. Picture: AFP

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also said that while it remains to be seen where Milton will strike, it’s clear the state is going to be hit hard.

“You have time to prepare … be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” DeSantis said. “If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”

He said it was imperative debris from Helene be cleared before Milton hit so that debris like stoves and refrigerators don’t become flying missiles.

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico on 7 October 2024

The 1 to 5 rating is based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage and loss of life. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes.

A collapsed lifeguard tower as a result of Hurricane Helene is seen in Clearwater, Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton, which has strengthened to a Cat. 4 storm. Picture: AFP

US President Joe Biden was briefed on Milton and said in a statement that his administration was readying “life-saving resources.”

He also ordered an additional 500 active-duty troops sent to North Carolina to help with Helene response and recovery, joining 1000 other troops, 6000 national guards and 7000 federal personnel already on the ground.

Deanne Criswell, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said on ABC that federal authorities were “absolutely ready” for Milton.

People view damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Old Fort, North Carolina. Picture: AFP

Two vehicles lie up-ended from flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Old Fort, North Carolina. Picture: AFP

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis upped the number of counties under a state of emergency to 51 ahead of the storm, predicting Milton could have “major, major impacts,” with storm surges of up to 20 feet (six meters).

Helene roared into the Florida coastline as a Category 4 storm on September 26 and carved a path of destruction inland, dumping torrential rainfall and causing flash flooding in remote towns in states such as North Carolina.

Debris and a mobile home are piled up along a tree line in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Old Fort, North Carolina. Picture: AFP

The storm has killed more than 230 people – making it the deadliest natural disaster to hit the United States since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina – with the toll still rising.

Relief workers are racing to find survivors and to get power and drinking water to remote mountainous communities.

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TRUMP SPREADING ‘DANGEROUS’ MISINFORMATION

Relief workers are racing to find survivors and to get power and drinking water to remote mountainous communities.
But that effort has been hit by a wave of false claims and conspiracy theories.
Among the litany of disinformation is the lie pushed by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that relief funds have been misappropriated by his rival for the White House, Democrat Kamala Harris, and redirected toward migrants.
“It’s frankly ridiculous and just plain false … it’s really a shame that we’re putting politics ahead of helping people,” Criswell told ABC.
It is a “truly dangerous narrative,” she said.

Jane Peterson stands inside her garage filled with relief supplies, outside the family home and business that were destroyed by Hurricane Helene in Green Mountain, North Carolina. Picture: AFP

The Trump administration nevertheless doubled down, repeating the assertion in a statement.
FEMA and outside fact-checkers note that a program under the agency’s aegis to provide shelter and aid to migrants is funded directly by Congress, entirely separate from disaster-related funding.
ABC reported that law enforcement is monitoring threats toward FEMA officials and other recovery agencies prompted by the disinformation.
North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis urged residents to focus on recovery and ignore the damaging rhetoric.
“The last thing that the victims of Helene need right now is political posturing, finger-pointing, or conspiracy theories that only hurt the response effort,” he said in a statement.

TV REPORTER SAVES WOMAN AS HURRICANE HELENE HITS

Offering a glimmer of hope amid the dark days ahead, a Fox News reporter rescued a woman from her car which went under in rising floodwaters while he was live on-air.

Fox News meteorologist Bob Van Dillen was covering Hurricane Helene in Atlanta where he heard the female driver screaming for help.

Fox Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen was filmed wading towards the woman who was screaming for help after driving into floodwater caused by Hurricane Helene. Picture: Fox News

Fox Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen helping the woman to safety. Picture: Fox News

Fox Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen carrying the scared woman. Picture: Fox News

The Fox meteorologist called 911 and assured her help was coming but her cries for help continued.

He said on-air said, “Oh man, it’s a situation.”

He then looked into the camera and said that he was going to help the lady, saying, “I’ll be back.”

The Fox and Friends team in New York continued the broadcast as Van Dillen disappeared to help the driver.

Van Dillen was then seen in chest-high water, carrying the woman on his back after helping her escape her car.

HEROIC RESCUE: @foxweather meteorologist rushes to save a woman from rising floodwaters as deadly Helene slams Southeast. pic.twitter.com/Nv9tvtFJoF

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 27, 2024

MAN AND DOG SAVED FROM ROUGH SEAS

The US Coast Guard released incredible footage of a man and his dog being plucked from rough seas off the coast of Florida.

#Final The man & his dog were reportedly in good medical condition. They were brought to Southwest Florida International airport to meet with EMS. The vessel is adrift and disabled.

🎥🎬 Recorded by a camera worn by AST2 Hudson, edited by Lt. Cmdr. Kellerman, AirSta Clearwater pic.twitter.com/3ehoIVqlLj

— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 27, 2024

The man’s sailboat began taking on water off the coast off Sanibel Island when he was found just in time by the coastguard rescue helicopter.

A man and his dog are rescued from off the coast of Florida by the US Coast Guard during Hurricane Helene. Picture: US Coast Guard.

50 PEOPLE RESCUED FROM HOSPITAL ROOF

Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty had welcome news about the staff and patients stranded on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital. More than 50 people were stranded.

“Everyone has been rescued safely from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin,” Senator Hagerty wrote on X.

“More trouble on the horizon for East Tennessee communities. Please stay safe and thank you for your prayers!”

The good news continued as Tennessee’s Cocke County Mayor, Rob Mathis, clarified the Waterview Dam had not suffered a catastrophic failure and previous warnings were “false alarms”.

HOSPITAL RESCUE: 50+ people were sent to the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital in East TN and are awaiting rescue as flooding cut the hospital off from land. https://t.co/4xgFCV76Qn@WKRN#Helenepic.twitter.com/ZXG0Kjp492

— Nickelle Smith (@NickelleReports) September 27, 2024

A damaged house is seen floating after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Steinhatchee, Florida. Picture: AFP.

PJ Brashear operates a duck boat that he's been using to retrieve people stranded in flooded neighbourhoods in Florida. Picture: AFP.

A rescue vehicle makes its way through a flooded street after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Cedar Key. Picture: AFP.

A house destroyed by Hurricane Helene. Picture: AFP.

The storm has devastated communities across six states. Picture: Getty Images.

“The loss of life that we’ve seen, a lot of it has been by fallen trees because of the saturated ground,” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp told media.

A four-year-old child who was travelling in a car involved in a head on crash caused by heavy rain is also among the dead.

– with AFP

Originally published as Milton intensifies into major Category 5 hurricane as Florida braces for most catastrophic storm