Florida orders residents to evacuate as Hurricane Milton continues to intensify.

A storm surge warning has been reissued for several areas in Florida as Milton intensifies with wind speeds of 161 km/h, continuing to strengthen and becoming a major hurricane by the end of October 7th.

Residents along Florida’s coast have just endured the devastating Hurricane Helene in recent days and now face new evacuation orders as the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) on October 7th warned that Hurricane Milton is strengthening to Category 3 on the five-tier scale, with the potential to cause severe damage.

The NHC noted that a storm surge warning has been reissued for several areas in Florida as Milton intensifies with wind speeds of 161 km/h, continuing to strengthen and becoming a major hurricane by the end of October 7th.

The hurricane is expected to move north of the Yucatán Peninsula and cross the southern Gulf of Mexico on October 7th-8th. It could potentially make landfall on Florida’s west coast.

The risk of storm surge during Hurricane Milton could reach 0.6 to 1.2 meters above sea level along the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, causing large, destructive waves.

According to the NHC, major hurricanes—Category 3 or higher—have a minimum wind speed of 178 km/h and pose the risk of “catastrophic damage,” even to well-constructed homes. Power and water outages may last for several days or weeks after the storm passes.

Tampa County official Jane Castor stated that the area is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, and the incoming rain from Milton will add more challenges, not to mention storm surges and wind damage.

President Joe Biden emphasized that the federal government is preparing resources for storm response and rescue efforts.

Earlier that day, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis extended the state of emergency to 51 of the state’s 67 counties, warning that Hurricane Milton could have “significant impacts.”

Meanwhile, rescue teams are still racing to find those missing after Hurricane Helene, which hit the U.S. on September 27th, resulting in 225 fatalities across several states.