Hurricane Milton was upgraded to a Category 5 storm on Monday (October 7) and is predicted to strike Florida this week amid evacuation orders in place across the state, with special attention to the Tampa Bay Area.
According to NBC4, over 50 counties across The Sunshine State are currently under a state of emergency as the impending storm threatens catastrophic wind speeds of 175 mph.
Charlotte, Hillsborough, Citrus, Manatee, Hernando, and Lee counties are all under mandatory evacuation orders with the earliest being 2:00 p.m. on Monday. All "persons in Level A, B, and C—and all residents or visitors in RVs or Mobile Homes" are currently in process of evacuating Manatee County, followed by persons in Hillsborough and Charlotte counties at 2:30 p.m.
Individuals located in Hernando County, even those "living in coastal and low-lying areas, as well as manufactured homes county wide," have until Tuesday morning (October 8) to flee the region.
Residents of Glades and Okeechobee counties are under voluntary evacuation, while residents living in Pinellas, Sarasota, and Pasco counties are under voluntary evacuation with special orders given to "everyone who would be vulnerable in the event of a power loss" in Pasco County, and "all residential healthcare facilities" in Pinnellas County. Residents of Sarasota County have been tasked with forming an evacuation plan as Hurricane Milton's power increases.
For additional evacuation orders check out floridadisaster.org.