TAMPA—President Joe Biden approved Florida’s emergency declaration on Monday ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, which is now confirmed to be a Category 5 hurricane.
“The maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 160 mph (250 kph) with higher gusts,” the center said.
A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale requires sustained winds of 157 mph or greater.
From there, it is expected to cross the Florida Peninsula and enter the Atlantic Ocean still as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph.
Storm surges of 8–12 feet are still expected for Tampa Bay and Florida’s west coast from the Anclote River down to Englewood. The maximum storm surge reported in Tampa Bay after Hurricane Helene was a little more than seven feet.
“There is an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds for portions of the west coast of the Florida peninsula beginning Tuesday night or early Wednesday,” the National Hurricane Center stated. “Storm surge and hurricane watches are now in effect for portions of the west coast of the Florida peninsula, and residents in that area should follow any advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so.”
If Hurricane Milton makes landfall in the Tampa Bay region, it will be the first to do so in more than 100 years.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 35 counties on Florida’s west coast and later extended that declaration to 51 counties across the peninsula.
Biden announced on Oct. 7 that he approved the emergency declaration and announced federal assistance for work beginning Oct. 5.
That assistance includes 75 percent federal funding emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance (Category B) for 37 counties, including the Tampa Bay counties of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas, and Sarasota.
Emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance were also approved for 14 additional counties, including Taylor, Madison, and Alachua counties.
