Hurricane Milton set to hit US - as Florida prepares for biggest evacuation in seven years

Florida is getting ready for its biggest evacuation in seven years in anticipation of Hurricane Milton's approach.

The weather system, which intensified from a tropical storm into a hurricane on Sunday, is expected to hit the US coastline on Wednesday.

The hurricane is currently moving eastward over the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to reach the Tampa Bay region before continuing on to Orlando.

This follows the deaths of over 200 individuals due to Hurricane Helene, which swept through the southeastern United States, including areas of Florida, late last month.

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Weather experts predict that some regions that were recently impacted may experience further storms, potentially increasing the damage from just a week and a half ago.

Kevin Guthrie, the head of Florida's emergency management division, cautioned that residents need to get ready for “the most significant evacuation we’ve likely witnessed since Hurricane Irma in 2017.”

He stated, "I strongly urge you to leave."

In 2017, roughly seven million residents in Florida were instructed to evacuate their homes before Hurricane Irma struck, a storm that ultimately resulted in over 130 fatalities in the state.

The large-scale evacuation led to heavy traffic congestion on highways and significant lines at gas stations.

Authorities claim they have taken valuable lessons from the tumultuous events of 2017. They plan to set up emergency fuel stations and charging stations for electric vehicles on paths designated for evacuations.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned that power outages were probable and that the amount of debris from Hurricane Helene would likely rise significantly.

He stated, "I believe there’s no situation in which we won’t face significant consequences at this stage."

You have plenty of time to get ready – you can work on your hurricane preparedness plan throughout today, all of Monday, and likely all of Tuesday as well.

"If you're on the west coast of Florida, particularly the barrier islands, you should be prepared for the possibility of being asked to evacuate."

Check out more: Aftermath of the hurricane to cause intense rainfall in the UK. Pair discovered lifeless while embracing in their bed following the storm.

Officials announced at a news conference that Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg, is expected to order mandatory evacuations for over 500,000 residents living in the most flood-prone regions on Monday.

Evacuations are currently underway for six hospitals, 25 nursing homes, and 44 assisted living centers in the area.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch stated, "We will be in the process of rebuilding for years due to Hurricane Helene, and the effects of this storm will make things even more difficult."

Keep in mind that Hurricane Helene was located 100 miles from us and was heading in a different direction. This is a strong category two or three hurricane coming straight towards us.

A warning for a hurricane has been announced for the northern coastline of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden revealed that an additional 500 active-duty soldiers will be deployed to North Carolina to assist in the recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. This will increase the total number of troops involved to 1,500.

So far, over $137 million (£104 million) in federal funding for the area has been authorized.