Florida prepares for the largest evacuation in seven years.

Hurricane "Milton" strengthens to category four

Hurricane "Milton", approaching the USA, has strengthened to category four, reports Sky News. According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, the hurricane was moving eastward through the Gulf of Mexico at a speed of 150 miles per hour. It is forecasted that the hurricane will reach the Tampa Bay area and then pass over Orlando.

The previous hurricane "Helen", which was also a category four, caused the death of over 200 people in the southeastern parts of the USA, including Florida. It is noted that some areas already affected by "Helen" may suffer even more as a result of hurricane "Milton", causing significant damage.

Florida's Director of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, urged residents to prepare for the largest evacuation since hurricane "Irma" in 2017. At that Time, over 7 million people left their homes before the hurricane, which claimed the lives of more than 130 people. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also warned of possible power outages and the danger of landslides.

Mandatory evacuation in Pinellas

Pinellas County, which includes the city of St. Petersburg, will announce a mandatory evacuation of more than 500,000 people in the lowest areas. Evacuation of hospitals and homes for the elderly and those with physical disabilities has already begun there.

It should be noted that at the beginning of January, Florida was hit by powerful tornadoes that led to destruction and human casualties. Tornadoes affected several cities, causing damage to homes and power lines. About 100,000 people were left without electricity, and there were at least four fatalities.