The latest evacuations and major operations are taking place in Florida to keep people safe from the consequences of the passage of Milton, the violent hurricane which, after crossing the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to reach the coasts of the United States during the night between Wednesday. and Thursday. Several airports in Florida have closed or suspended their activities in view of the arrival of the hurricane, which could be the most severe to hit the state in the last century. More than 1,900 flights have been canceled so far, most of them departing or arriving in Tampa and Orlando.
Milton was initially classified as a category 5, the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale used for hurricane intensity: on Wednesday it was reclassified as a category 4, and then increased in intensity again and was. reclassified as category 5.
According to meteorologists, however, regardless of the classification, the hurricane is still very dangerous. Among other things, it is bringing rain and strong winds reaching 260 kilometers per hour: it is a force capable of knocking down trees, toppling pylons and street lamps, overturning vehicles, causing great damage to buildings and overcome heavy objects apparently fixed to the ground. , such as infrastructure or garden furniture, as well as disrupting electricity networks for long periods of time.
In Florida, among other things, the storm Helene has also just hit, after it reached Florida as a category 4 hurricane, and then lost intensity. Despite these differences in intensity, Helen caused widespread damage and over 200 deaths in various southern states of the United States.
Soldiers along the half-deserted streets of Bradenton Beach, Florida (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Milton is expected to reach Florida on the mid-west coast, in the Tampa Bay area, where more than 3 million people live: because of the way that area is shaped it is particularly exposed with intense atmospheric phenomena coming from the sea. Evacuation orders were issued in a total of eleven counties, which have nearly 6 million inhabitants.
Arrangements have been made for the evacuation of the people the many shelters within the state. Free Uber rides were also organized for those who need to get to one of these shelters, said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, as well as free rides on public transportation. The streets of some areas of Florida were already deserted on Tuesday, and the army was deployed to ensure that evacuation orders were respected.
A boat is battered by winds blowing from Milford to South Pasadena, Oct. 9 (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
In addition to the evacuees, furniture, objects and debris left by Helene’s descendants were ordered to be cleared from the streets: there were so many heavy objects to be removed that in some cases people organized themselves to be removed independently, since that the operators mobilized them. by state and 300 vans were delayed because they were busy elsewhere.
Among the materials removed are water-soaked mattresses, sofas and pieces of wall: “they will be like missiles: it’s like a spear coming at you”, said an employee involved in its transfer to Associated Pressreferring to the violence such heavy objects can knock over people when pushed by hurricane winds.