Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, a Democrat, issued an extremely blunt warning to residents who refuse to leave evacuation zones before Hurricane Milton makes landfall.
“What would you say to people tonight who are saying, you know what: ‘I’m going to ride this out.’ I’ve ridden others out.’ What would you say to people who aren’t heeding those evacuation orders?” CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins asked.
“You may have done that in others but there’s never been one like this,” Castor responded.
“This is literally catastrophic,” she continued.
“I can say this without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die,” she added.
WATCH:
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor: “I can say this without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you are going to die.” pic.twitter.com/CP0VmK3TUC
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 8, 2024
WFLA reports:
She went on to explain that she’s never given that warning before but given the unprecedented circumstances of Milton and the threat of a direct hit to the Tampa Bay area, the warning could save residents’ lives who are on the fence about staying or leaving.
Helene roared ashore as a Category 4 hurricane in the Big Bend region on Sept. 26. The hurricane brought catastrophic damage and left hundreds dead from the system’s strong wind, powerful rain, and storm surge.
The hurricane caused more than 200 deaths across several states, including 25 in Florida and at least 14 in the Tampa Bay area.
Multiple Florida counties have issued various mandatory evacuation orders.
WATCH:
The Mayor of Tampa, Jane Castor just gave a dire & serious Warning.
“If you choose to stay…you are going to die. Helene was a wake up call. This is literally catastrophic. I can say without any dramatization whatsoever if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas you… pic.twitter.com/WxpNn4ekxY
— David lester Straight (@lesterstra) October 8, 2024
Per FOX 13 Tampa Bay:
Citrus County
A mandatory evacuation is in effect for all of Zone A, along with anyone living in campers, tents, mobile homes, manufactured homes, or any structure not capable of withstanding sustained winds of up to 110 mph.
Hernando County
ADVERTISEMENTMandatory Evacuations have been issued for all areas west of US 19, which includes evacuation zones A, B, and C. All residents living in coastal and low-lying areas, as well as manufactured homes county wide, are included.
Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Evacuation Zones A and B, and for all mobile homes and manufactured housing throughout the County starting at 2:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7.
Manatee County
Evacuations of zones A, B and C – along with all mobile/manufactured homes and RVs – begin at 2 p.m. Monday.
Anna Maria Island
The City of Anna Maria says a mandatory evacuation of the island will be ordered at 12 p.m. tomorrow. City Hall is open on Sunday until 4 p.m. for re-entry tags.
Pasco County
ADVERTISEMENTPasco County is under an order of local state emergency. Mandatory evacuations for zones A, B, C and residents in mobile homes, low-lying areas and flood prone are in effect, according to officials. Residents who are registered with Pasco as a Special Needs Resident, and everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss are under a voluntary evacuation.
Pinellas County
Pinellas County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents in Zones A, B, and C and all mobile homes county-wide.
Sarasota County
A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for Levels A, B, and C, along with all mobile or manufactured homes and people living on boats.
Florida interstates have backed up with severe traffic amid the massive evacuation.
Tampa mayor Jane Castor warns residents they will ‘DIE’ if they don’t evacuate as Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/nPnwpjRHOx
— My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) October 8, 2024
NEW: Massive evacuation happening in Florida due to Hurricane Milton. This is I-75 in Tampa. pic.twitter.com/wNLse6KJke
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) October 8, 2024
From the New York Post:
Milton is already the second-strongest Gulf hurricane in recorded history — and experts believe it’ll only grow stronger as it approaches Florida. The storm’s winds are already a stunning 180 mph with heavy downpours also expected.
“This is something that I’ve never seen in my life and I can tell you anyone born and raised in the Tampa Bay area has never seen anything like this before,” she stressed. “People need to get out.”
“If we have this predicted storm surge, this is not survivable,” she reiterated.
ADVERTISEMENTA long line of cars was already on the road Monday night and shelves in supermarkets across the area were barren from panic buying.
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