Hurricane Milton Forces Evacuations: New Yorkers Flee Florida Ahead of Major Storm

Hurricane Milton Forces Evacuations: New Yorkers Flee Florida

As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, New Yorkers who were vacationing in the state are scrambling to escape before the storm makes landfall. With the storm expected to hit Florida sometime Wednesday night or Thursday morning, some residents are already facing the brunt of the impact.

At John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City, travelers reported challenges getting flights out of the state. Erica Palazzo, who cut her Florida trip short, recounted the struggle to secure seats on a flight, saying, "We actually caught the last two seats on the flight. We had to change our airport from Orlando to Jacksonville and we had to drive to Jacksonville." The journey was further complicated by limited gas availability due to high demand from evacuations.

President Joe Biden has described Hurricane Milton as a potential "worst storm to hit Florida in over a century." An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured a breathtaking image of the hurricane, highlighting its sheer scale.

Mae Caputo and her friend Josephine Wanko, escaping from St. Petersburg, which lies directly in the storm's path, recounted the devastation left by a previous storm, Helene. "Beds. Chairs. Everything is out. I could cry, it's so sad," Caputo said. Officials are concerned that such debris could become dangerous projectiles as residents flee their homes.

Caputo and Wanko flew to New York to stay with Caputo's family, expressing worry for those without family or resources to evacuate. Meanwhile, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor urged residents to heed evacuation warnings and not rely on misinformation about FEMA aid. "Please don't get political on this. This storm is going to affect everybody and we are getting the help that we need," she stated.

Tampa's airport suspended operations Tuesday night, and Orlando's could be next. Travelers are arriving from Jacksonville and Miami, if they can secure seats on flights, as time runs out before the storm hits.