Biden warns of Hurricane Milton's 'incredible destructiveness' - but storm DOWNGRADED to Category 3

Locals warned of deadly flesh-eating bacteria as storm closes in

Florida residents are being warned of a deadly flesh-eating bacteria which could lurk in Hurricane Milton's floodwater.

The state's health department is urging people to avoid coming into contact with floodwater due to the potential levels of Vibrio bacteria.

Health experts have said that a storm surge - an abnormal rise in sea level caused by a storm - could increase the risk of the deadly bacteria.

It can infect people with open wounds, or those who have compromised immune systems or liver disease.

Those with diabetes and cancer are also more vulnerable to Vibrio infections.

Winds are now beginning to strike Florida's shores with the hurricane expected to hit the Tampa Bay area in the early hours of Thursday as a Category 4.

It comes after a terrifying moment was caught on camera when Hurricane hunters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) were thrown around as they flew a plane into the huge Category 5 hurricane.

The scientists were collecting data from the storm as the aircraft approached Florida’s western coast on Tuesday.

Researchers on board the plane - dubbed "Miss Piggy" - had a bumpy ride through the storm’s 155mph (249kph) winds.

Flood insurance claims surge in recent years

Hurricane Milton storm surge mapped

National Weather Service tells Floridians to shelter in place as evacuation window closes

It’s time to shelter-in-place from #Milton. Tropical-storm force winds, flooding rains, and tornadoes are spreading inland across FL. Unless a life-threatening situation arises, stay indoors and follow updates. pic.twitter.com/yplcIhwjIR

— National Weather Service (@NWS) October 9, 2024

Disney World closes Orlando theme park

Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is set to close its theme parks and Disney Springs complex as Hurricane Milton approaches the state.

The closure will be implemented in phases on Wednesday, October 9.

Disney's Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will shut at 1pm, whilst the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Springs will close at 2pm.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

IN PICTURES: Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida

IN PICTURES: Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida

IN PICTURES: Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida

Third of young Americans reconsidering where they want to live in the future amid hurricane catastrophe

A large number of US residents have said they are reconsidering where they want to move in the future after seeing the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

According to a Redfin report conducted last week, nearly a third of US residents between the ages of 18 and 34 said they are reconsidering while around 15 per cent of those over age 35 felt the same.

"Scores of Americans flocked to the Sun Belt during the pandemic because remote work allowed them to take advantage of the region's relatively low cost of living," Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather said.

"Some thought Appalachia was insulated from hurricane risk, not realizing that the area is prone to flooding and that hurricanes can sometimes cause flash flooding far away from the ocean.

"Americans are beginning to realize that nowhere is truly immune to the impacts of climate change, and we're starting to see that impact where people want to live — even people who haven't experienced a catastrophic weather event firsthand."

WATCH: President Joe Biden issues warning over Hurricane Milton

WATCH: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warns state bracing for a second major hit

'The house can be replaced. The stuff can be replaced. It's just better to get out of town,' says father of Florida resident

Michael Tylenda, who was visiting his son in Tampa, said he was heeding the advice from officials to evacuate.

"If anybody knows anything about Florida, when you don't evacuate when you're ordered to, you can pretty much die," Tylenda said.

"The house can be replaced. The stuff can be replaced. It's just better to get out of town."

Seawater surge threatens to swamp Florida Gulf Coast

A life-threatening surge of seawater, shredding winds and a deluge of rain is currently bearing down on the state of Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches.

Millions of people along a stretch of more than 300 miles (483 km) of coastline are under evacuation orders, and authorities issued increasingly dire warnings on Wednesday morning as the storm approached.

Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi told CNN that people who remain on the barrier islands in her county just south of Tampa likely would not survive the projected 10- to 15-foot storm surge.

"If you choose to stay, make sure you have a life preserver handy," she said.

Tornado breaks out ahead of Hurricane Milton

TORNADO OUTBREAK BEFORE MILTON ARRIVES
Much of south Florida is under a #TornadoWatch with now numerous supercell thunderstorms forming #Tornadoes .. Video from Palm Beach County where a confirmed Tornado was on the ground this morning

So much wind energy moving off the ocean at… pic.twitter.com/bQ6G67oMAK

— Mike Masco (@MikeMasco) October 9, 2024

Hurricane Milton warning: NOAA issue alert for 'increased winds' this afternoon

Hurricane Milton could cost insurers $60 billion and raise reinsurance rates, RBC says

Hurricane Milton could result in a $60 billion loss for the global insurance industry, creating a surge in 2025 reinsurance prices which could boost some insurance companies' shares, analysts at RBC Capital said.

The Category 5 hurricane is due to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida late on Wednesday or early Thursday, and is potentially one of the most destructive ever to hit the region, which is still recovering from devastation caused by Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.

More than one million people in coastal areas are under evacuation orders.

A $60 billion loss would be similar to losses from Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida in 2022, the RBC analysts said on Wednesday, adding that this estimate for Milton should be “very manageable” for the insurance sector.

Streets flood in Cuba as Hurricane Milton approaches the coast

When and where will Hurricane Milton hit?

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicts that Hurricane Milton will make landfall in Florida on Wednesday night, local time, as an "extremely dangerous hurricane."

It is likely to hit near Tampa, a metropolitan area home to over three million residents.

Meteorologists are cautioning against severe conditions, including heavy rainfall, flash floods, powerful winds, and potential storm surges, where seawater is pushed inland from the coast.

The core of the hurricane is expected to move across west-central Florida, with a large storm surge expected along a swathe of the state's coast ahead of landfall.

NBC forecasters estimate it will hit the west coast of Florida between 2am and 6am local time tomorrow - which is between 7am and 11am UK time.

Tourists trapped inside Disney resort - 'We are stuck here!'

Tourists visiting Disney World in Florida say they are stuck inside the resort after it was closed down amid Hurricane Milton.

According to Walt Disney World Magazine, the park has only been forced to close a handful of times due to hurricanes in its more than 50-year history.

Telissa Carpenter, who is on holiday at Disney for her son's 30th birthday, received a notification on her Disney app informing her that the resort was monitoring a quickly progressing storm.

She was then told hours later that her flight home, which was scheduled for Tuesday, had been cancelled.

"We came to the realisation that we're stuck here," Telissa Carpenter, who is on holiday at Disney for her son's 30th birthday, Carpenter told NBC News.

Hurricane Milton expected to unleash 'worst devastation since Hurricane Katrina' with 200mph winds in 'once-in-a-generation' storm event

America is braced for a ‘once-in-a generation’ storm event as it comes under attack from one of the deadliest hurricanes in the nation’s history.

Eastern coasts are warned of ‘catastrophic’ impacts as 200mph winds and a near 10-metre storm surge unleash the worst devastation ‘since Hurricane Katrina’.

Meteorologists are meticulously studying the storm’s path with the merest change in track threatening dire consequences.

They fear Milton will be one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in US history when it makes landfall today.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Mayor urges people to evacuate: 'If you choose to stay you are going to die!'

Tampa's mayor has issued an urgent evacuation alert as Hurricane Milton approaches - as she warns that staying in evacuation zones could be fatal.

The powerful storm may be more destructive than the recent Hurricane Helene.

Mayor Jane Castor stressed the unprecedented nature of the threat.

"I can say without any dramatisation whatsoever if you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you're gonna die," she told CNN.

The mayor's stark message underscores the potentially catastrophic impact of Milton, with forecasts predicting a storm surge of 10-12 feet, nearly double that of Helene's devastating 6-foot surge.

Mayor Castor added: "This is something that I've never seen in my life and I can tell you anyone born and raised in the Tampa Bay area has never seen anything like this before."

Britons trapped in Florida have to barricade themselves in hotel as flights home were cancelled amidst 'catastrophic' Hurricane Milton

A British family trapped in Florida has been forced to barricade themselves inside their hotel as Hurricane Milton approaches the sunshine state.

The party of nine from Colchester have found themselves among those stranded, with flights cancelled and Orlando International Airport closed.

Racheal Harris, 36, her husband Jamie, 34, along with their three-year-old son Maximus are preparing to weather the category-5 storm from their hotel room in Orlando.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE