More than 30,000 Floridians in shelters, governor says
Governor Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday afternoon that tens of thousands of people evacuated from Hurricane Milton are now sheltered in public storm facilities, with ample capacity remaining.
“We’ve got over 30,000 individuals sheltered, but we have space for more than 200,000,” DeSantis said during a briefing in Lake City as the outer bands of Hurricane Milton reached the state.
Governor stated that nearly 150 state and local shelters have been established for Hurricane Milton evacuees. He noted that every county under an evacuation order has at least one pet-friendly shelter, as well as a shelter equipped to accommodate individuals with special needs.
To reassure those hesitant to leave their homes, DeSantis added that many shelters are equipped with Wi-Fi connected to Starlink internet, allowing evacuees to stay connected.
“It’s not the Four Seasons,” remarked earlier, “but there are some amenities that will make it tolerable to get through the next 24 to 36 hours.”
Milton’s size has more than doubled since yesterday
Hurricane Milton is a powerful storm, with its wind field continuing to expand, according to the latest data from the National Hurricane Center.Currently, Milton’s tropical storm-force winds extend up to 250 miles from its center, particularly on the northern side, a significant increase from the 105-mile range observed on Tuesday afternoon.As it approaches landfall, Milton’s wind field may expand even further, posing a threat of damaging winds across much of the Florida Peninsula. Tropical storm-force gusts have already been recorded along parts of the state’s west coast, stretching from north of the Tampa Bay area down through the Keys.