Still be so close . Yet here we are. We showed you those numbers, plus 6, plus 10. His ability to outperform in that state is remarkable anywhere in the country. Thank you, my friend. More than 5. 5 Million people are under voluntary or mandatory Evacuation Orders in Florida Tonight as the state braces for the S Impact of hurricane milt. Tolls were waived and Highway Shoulders were open to ease clogging as florida residents took to the roads to get out of the storms way. Hurricane milton is expected to make landfall in florida late thursday night. Its expected to drive straight now central nra, the straight direct hit for areas like tampa in more than a century. The mayor of tampa issued this stark warning to his residents. If h you choose to stay in one these evacuation areas, you are going to die. Now, ineven in less extreme circumstances, preparing for a Natural Disaster is always a challenge. The government has to coordinate between state and local and federal agencies. Thosera age
Keep it here on msnbc. Well be here throughout the storm for you and ill see you here tomorrow, same time, same place. For now, im Ana Cabrera reporting from New York. Jose diazbalart picks up our coverage right now. Good morning. 11 00 a. M. Eastern, 8 00 a. M. Pacific. Im Jose Diazbalart. We begin with breaking news. Hurricane Milton Closing in on floridas gulf coast, expected to make landfall early tomorrow as a devastating major hurricane. Right now, milton is a category 4 storm, churning 100 Miles Southwest of tampa, set to bring damaging winds and a dangerous and potentially historic Storm Surge. Schools, airports and many businesses are already closed in florida as People scramble to evacuate in the final hours before the storm hits. And take a look at this, miltons powerful winds shaking up a team of Hurricane Hunters flying through the storm. Meantime, right now, in South Florida, a tornado has broken out near i75. Joining us now from tampa, nbcs Marissa Parra. And also with u
Going to be different . And so the difference between what theyre used to and what this will be, as a way to, hopefully, give them more encouragement to know that they need to get out . Thank you, Madam Vice President. Yes, we are emphasizing the Size And Intensity of the storm and the direction at which its approaching which is unusual and really raises that Storm Surge Risk for the West Coast of florida. We typically see hurricanes approach the West Coast of florida from the South Or Southeast parallel to the coast. This track, more perpendicular to the coast raises the Storm Surge Risk. And the size of the storm is going to produce hazardous impacts across much of the peninsula. So, weve been hitting the surge risks on both coasts, and flooding and tornadoes, trying to emphasize the Scale And Breadth of the threat which is somewhat unusual for milton. Thank you. Thank you for your good work. Mike, one more question yes, sir. For people listening, what is the width from the state of
Before making landfall earlier Than expecTed TonighT in florida. ForecasT To bring up To 15 feeT of lifeThreaTening STorm Surge To some regions, up To 18 inches of rain in areas like Tampa, and caTasTrophic, susTained winds. AT This hour, parTs of florida are already feeling The effecTs as milTon grows in size and moves closer To The WesT CoasT. More Than 1 Million people are under mandaTory evacuaTion orders. Thousands are sTill fleeing The sTaTe in search of higher ground, as The window To geT ouT sTarTs To close, and resources dwindle. As of This morning, 60 of Tampa Bays Service sTaTions reporTed They are compleTely, compleTely ouT of gas. And now Tornadoes like This one in broward counTy, hundreds of miles from milTons core. This is new video of IT Crossing i75 Today. Ill speak wiTh one of floridas mayors, The One who has rode ouT a whole loT of sTorms since The mid70s in a momenT. WhaT he says milTon could do. FirsT, leT us geT To our reporTers. Joining us now, nbc News Correspon
Hi there, everyone. Its 4 00 in New York. At this hour, millions of people along Floridas Gulf Coast are bracing for one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in The Atlantic basin. The outer bands of Hurricane Milton are already hitting parts of the state. It is forecast to make landfall some time tonight between 10 00 p. M. Eastern and 2 00 a. M. And is expected to double in size before making landfall. This is the scene right now in ft. Myers, florida, being battered by high winds and rain. The top concern for officials at this moment is making sure that residents get to safety. The window for evacuating is now rapidly closing. Even as the storm is already complicating those efforts. This video shows a tornado touching down near i75 in south florida, thats hundreds of miles from Hurricane Miltons core. Just a few hours ago, president Joe Biden called Hurricane Milton, quote, the storm of the century. And made a plea to people in the Storms Path to please evacuate. First, man