‘Milton could be catastrophic’: What to know about Florida’s destructive hurricane and its effects on the Bahamas

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a category 4 hurricane, with effects on the Bahamas.

Some Bahamians studying in Florida, returned to the Bahamas last night to escape the intensity and danger of this hurricane after battling Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago, which caused damage to the area.

As Florida prepares, Milton is expected to pass through the northern Bahamas on Wednesday and Thursday, urging Education officials to close Abaco, Grand Bahama and Bimini schools.

The Royal Bahamas Defence Force has also urged its personnel to return to post in expectation of the effects of the destructive storm.

Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis warned residents that “time is running out” to evacuate, while Mayor Jane Castor said it could be “literally catastrophic.”

What to know about Hurricane Milton

• Milton weakened from a category 5 to a category 4 and is continuing toward Florida making landfall between Tampa and Fort Myers.
• Hurricane Milton can pose a grave danger to Florida and has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for 51 of Florida’s 67 counties, including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties.
• Expect life-threatening storm surges, widespread heavy winds, flooding rainfall, and tornadoes beginning Wednesday.
• A tropical storm warning has been issued for the southeast coast of Florida south of the Indian River/St. Lucie County Line to Flamingo in the Everglades National Park, and for the northeast coast of Florida north of Ponte Vedra Beach to the mouth of the St. Mary’s River.
• The hurricane is centered 545 miles southwest of Tampa and packs 150 mph winds as of 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
• Milton has grown in size over the last 24 hours and is expected to grow larger on approach to Florida, affecting a big area of Florida.

Bahamian Laurie Dames living in Tampa, told the Nassau Guardian, that she and her family were preparing to evacuate to Tallahassee early Tuesday morning, to beat Milton’s arrival.

“People are trying to get out of Tampa and it’s pretty much bumper to bumper right now. We’re going to have to live with that and just get on the road,” she said. “This is the first time in a while that I’ve seen this amount of people taking it this serious this quickly. The service stations are full, the food stores are full, and the traffic is bad.”

However, another Bahamian living in Wesley Chapel, Tampa, Chandell Morley, said she will remain home “because I live further inland and where I live it’s over 70 feet above sea level.”

“Right now, I’m a bit nervous because we just don’t know what to expect,” she said.

She plans to pack a bag to stay at a shelter if needed.