Hurricane Milton, now a Category 5 storm, is expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay region on Wednesday, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph.
Here is what you need to know if you are living in Florida before the storm hits the region:-
What do you need for your
- Bottled water: One gallon per person per day
- Canned food and soup: Options like beans and chilli
- Can opener: For cans without easy-open lids
- First-aid kit: Assemble a comprehensive kit
- Prescription medications: Two weeks’ supply
- Baby and children’s needs: Include formula and diapers
- Flashlight: With extra batteries
- Battery-operated weather radio: For updates
Key safety tips
- Stay Informed: Ensure you have a reliable method to receive weather alerts, such as your smartphone or a weather radio.
- Charge Electronics: While power is available, fully charge all battery packs and electronic devices.
- Seek Shelter: During the storm’s peak, stay in the safest part of your home—interior rooms away from windows and exterior doors. This will protect you from potential tornadoes and severe storms that often accompany hurricanes.
- Stay Indoors After the Storm: More injuries and fatalities occur post-hurricane. Remain indoors until officials give the all-clear to avoid hazards like downed power lines and dangerous storm debris.
- Generator Safety: If using a generator, ensure it is placed outside and away from your home. Pay attention to any boil water notices issued by local authorities.
- Remain Cautious: If evacuation is not advised, stay indoors and keep away from windows. Be alert for tornadoes, which can form during or after a hurricane. It is safest to remain in the centre of your home, ideally in a closet or bathroom without windows.
How your phone can help in a hurricane
Your smartphone can be an invaluable resource during a hurricane. With the right websites and apps, you can transform it into a powerful tool to navigate the storm’s approach, arrival, and aftermath.
Enable Emergency Alerts:
- For iPhone Users: Go to Settings, then select Notifications. Look for Government Alerts and enable Emergency Alerts.
- For Android Users: From the home screen of the app, scroll right along the bottom and click on Settings. In the settings menu, select Severe Weather Alerts and choose from options such as Most Severe, Moderate Severe, or All Alerts.
Shelter guidelines
As Hurricane Milton approaches, shelters are opening across Southwest Florida.If you decide to go to a shelter, be sure to bring supplies for each family member.
- Sleeping bag, sleeping pad and/or blankets and pillow
- Personal flashlight & headlamps
- Disinfectant supplies, hand sanitiser, soap, cloth face coverings
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Soap or body wipes
- Feminine hygiene products
- Cell phone chargers/backup battery
- Extra sets of clothes suitable for the season
- Extra socks and sturdy shoes
- Food or snacks (72+ hours worth)
- Books or magazine
- Prescription medications, eyeglasses
- Important documents
For your pets:
- Pet care items
- Pet food and water (at least two weeks worth)
- Proper identification
- Medical records/microchip info/vaccination papers
- A carrier or cage
- Muzzle and leash
- Water and food bowls
- Medications
Curfews near you
Naples County in Florida is prone to flooding, residents and visitors are requested not to drive through flood-prone areas. A mandatory curfew will be put in place at 4 pm Wednesday. Only essential personnel with proper credentials will be exempted, according to the City of Naples. The city has already closed all its beaches, the beach access points, the Pier, Pier parking lots, and city parks on Monday at 6 pm.
A 24-hour curfew has been implemented in Sanibel starting at 10:00 pm on Tuesday. Similarly, the Town of Fort Myers Beach has also established a curfew, which already began at 10 pm on Tuesday during the ongoing local state of emergency.
People in Southwest Florida are ordered to evacuate due to the risk of storm surge. With rainfall predicted to reach 5-10 inches in Florida and 15 inches in others.
Southwest Florida International Airport will suspend all flights on Wednesday and Thursday. Most airlines plan to operate on Tuesday. Officials will provide updates regarding flights from RSW on Friday, October 11.
At Naples Airport, all FBO services will cease at 6 pm on Tuesday, and the airport will close at 7 pm NOTAMs will be updated as necessary.’
RSW rental car facilities will also be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
Additionally, municipalities and fire stations are offering free sandbags as the risk of storm surge increases. Supply is distributed quickly, and deliveries are being received. Go check with your local fire department and municipality as soon as possible.