Florida Rushes to Clear Debris From Helene as Hurricane Milton Strengthens

As Florida’s Gulf Coast continues recovering from the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago, residents and officials now brace for the arrival of Hurricane Milton, a rapidly intensifying storm that on Monday morning achieved Category 5 strength.

State and local authorities are working around the clock to prepare communities and clear remaining hazards from Helene as Milton approaches.

Tracking Hurricane Milton

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Milton’s maximum sustained winds had reached a staggering 160 mph by Monday morning, with the storm’s center approximately 735 miles west-southwest of Tampa. Milton underwent what forecasters describe as “remarkable” rapid intensification, surpassing Category 4 status in a matter of hours.

NHC Director Michael Brennan called Milton’s rate of acceleration “extreme” in a Monday morning briefing. The NHC noted that such rapid strengthening has been observed only twice: with Hurricanes Wilma in 2005 and Felix in 2007.

As of midday Monday, Milton was moving east at a relatively slow pace, about 9 mph. The storm is expected to move just north of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday and Tuesday before crossing the eastern Gulf of Mexico and approaching Florida’s west coast by Wednesday.

Tampa, Fort Myers Issue Evacuations

A growing number of Florida counties have ordered evacuations of certain areas and home types, effective Monday. These include Charlotte, Manatee, Pasco, Hillsborough, and Sarasota counties, as well as Pinellas County, which ordered the evacuation of certain residential health care facilities, starting on Sunday.

Emergency officials urge Floridians to look up their evacuation zone, plan an exit route and leave as soon as orders are issued. They’re reminding residents that evacuation doesn’t necessarily mean traveling far—it could be just a matter of several miles to a higher elevation or windproof shelter.

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expanded an emergency declaration to cover 51 of the state’s 67 counties, warning residents across the peninsula to prepare. “Do not get wedded to the cone,” he posted to social media on Sunday. “Floridians should prepare now for potential impacts, even if you live outside of the forecast cone.”

Newsweek contacted DeSantis’ office via email for comment on Monday.

The Florida State Guard announced on social media that its Crisis Response Battalion is working in Pinellas County alongside the Florida National Guard to remove debris from Hurricane Helene as Milton rapidly intensifies in the Gulf.

Communities Brace for Storm Surge

As Milton approaches, communities along Florida’s west coast are racing to prepare for the impending onslaught. In a bid to facilitate evacuations and emergency operations, all road tolls have been suspended in west-central Florida. Schools in many counties will be closed from Monday through at least Wednesday, and Florida Gulf Coast University near Fort Myers will close its campus Tuesday and Wednesday after shifting to remote operations.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management is already fielding hundreds of resource requests from communities. The agency is sending truckloads of food and water to central Florida and deploying more than 2,000 feet of “flood protection systems,” prioritizing critical infrastructure like hospitals and fire stations.

DeSantis has emphasized the critical importance of clearing debris left behind by Hurricane Helene, calling it a “24/7 round-the-clock mission.” This effort is crucial to prevent additional hazards from loose debris during Milton’s strong winds.

Emergency officials are reminding Floridians to check their supplies, especially if they used up reserves during Helene. They’re advised to ensure they have enough water, food, pet food, fresh batteries and other essentials to last each family member up to seven days.

Concerts, Sporting Events, Attractions Canceled

Hurricane Milton has forced the cancellation or postponement of numerous events and activities across the state.

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport has announced cancellation of all Allegiant Air flights on Wednesday and Thursday. NASA and SpaceX are also delaying the launch attempt of their Europa Clipper mission, originally scheduled for Thursday.

While Walt Disney World has not announced any closures as of Monday, many other attractions, concerts and sporting events are being postponed or canceled, as residents and tourists brace for Milton.

The rapid succession of powerful storms hitting Florida presents an unprecedented challenge for the state. Milton is the ninth hurricane to form in the 2024 Atlantic season, which runs from June through November. It’s the fifth since September 25, breaking the record of two during that period.

This marks the first time three simultaneous hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic Ocean after September, storm researcher Philip Klotzbach told NPR. While Hurricane Leslie continues to brew, Kirk was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone late Monday morning.