Storm surge and hurricane watches have been issued in parts of Florida as Hurricane Milton continues to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico.
As of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center, the Category 3 storm has maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour. The storm, currently about 750 miles from Tampa, is expected to move near the Yucatan Peninsula before changing direction and approaching the west coast of Florida by Wednesday.
Counties along Florida’s west coast have been ordered to evacuate, as the area tries to recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene.
FEMA’s administrator says the agency is ready to respond to Milton. Deanne Criswell told ABC’s “This Week” FEMA is funneling resources into the state and coordinating with local officials. Criswell also pushed back against rumors circulating on social media that the agency is underfunded because resources are going to assist undocumented immigrants.
[ photo: NOAA-National Hurricane Center – Facebook ]
