Hurricane Milton: Thousands evacuate as massive Category 5 storm barrels toward Florida

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Milton caused a potentially catastrophic collision Wednesday along Florida's west coast, where some residents insisted on staying after millions of people were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers had bleak chances of survival.

The Tampa Bay areaHome to more than 3.3 million peoplefaced the possibility of widespread destruction after escaping direct hits from major hurricanes for more than a century. The National Hurricane Center forecast that Milton, a monstrous Category 5 hurricane during much of its approach, would likely weaken but remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall late Wednesday.

Milton was centered late Tuesday about 405 miles (650 kilometers) southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph), the National Hurricane Center reported.

Forecasters predicted the storm will maintain hurricane strength as it passes through central Florida on Thursday as it heads east toward the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane's exact direction remained uncertain as forecasters Tuesday evening placed its predicted path just south of Tampa.

Thousands of fleeing cars clogged Florida highways ahead of the storm, but time for evacuations was running out on Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that the storm surge of up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) predicted for her city would be deep enough to engulf an entire home.

“So when you're in it, that's basically the coffin you're in,” Castor said.

Milton is targeting communities that are still struggling two weeks later Hurricane Helene In its devastating march, the disaster flooded streets and homes in western Florida and claimed at least 230 lives across the South.

In the coastal city of Punta Gorda, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Tampa, streets on Tuesday were still filled with 5-foot-high piles of soaked furniture, clothing, books, household appliances and other trash hauled out of damaged homes.

Many houses stood empty, but accountant and art collector Scott Joiner remained on the second floor of the New Orleans-style home he built 17 years ago. Joiner said bull sharks were swimming in the flooded streets and a neighbor had to be rescued by canoe when Helene came by and flooded the first floor of his home.

“Water is a blessing,” Joiner said, “but it is very deadly.”

Joiner said he planned to go for another round and outsmart Milton, despite the risk.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders in 11 Florida counties with a combined population of about 5.9 million people.

Officials have warned that anyone left behind must fend for themselves, as first responders are not expected to risk their lives attempting rescues at the height of the storm.

In Riverview, south of Tampa, on Tuesday several drivers waiting in a long line for fuel said they had no plans to evacuate.

“I think we're just going to hang in there, you know – hang in there,” said Martin Oakes of nearby Apollo Beach. “We put up shutters. The house is finished. So this is kind of the final piece of the puzzle.”

After Helene, others didn't take any risks.

On Anna Marie Island on the southern edge of Tampa Bay, Evan Purcell was packing up his father's ashes and trying to catch his 9-year-old cat McKenzie as he headed out Tuesday. Helene left him with thousands of dollars in damage when his home was flooded. He feared Milton would take over the rest.

“I'm still in shock from the first round, and here comes the second round,” Purcell said. “I just have a sinking feeling in my stomach about it.”

State and local governments scrambled in advance of the storm to clear piles of debris left in Helene's wake, fearing that the approaching hurricane would turn loose debris into flying missiles. Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state deployed more than 300 dump trucks that removed 1,300 loads of debris.

In Mexico, authorities in Yucatan state reported minor damage from Milton as it passed just offshore. Power lines, light poles and trees were knocked down near the coast and some small thatched buildings were destroyed, Yucatan Governor Joaquín Díaz said. He reported no deaths or injuries.

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Spencer reported from Fort Myers Beach. Associated Press writers Curt Anderson and Kate Payne in Tampa contributed to this report; Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale; Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia; Seth Borenstein in Washington and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City.