As Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida, residents who aren’t evacuating have received a chilling reminder of the storm’s dangers. At a press conference on October 7, Attorney General Ashley Moody urged anyone remaining in the affected areas to write their names in permanent marker on their arms for identification purposes.
Moody’s warning highlighted the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene, which devastated the state just weeks earlier, with bodies still being recovered along the coastline. “If you stay, you need to be prepared,” she stated, stressing the severity of the situation.
During the same conference, Senator Rick Scott added, “Nobody up here can save your life if you put yourself in harm’s way.”
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Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell echoed Moody’s advice in a follow-up press conference on October 8, requesting residents to jot down their name, date of birth, and next of kin. “This is no joke,” he emphasized, warning that first responders would not risk their lives in dangerous conditions.
This stark guidance comes amid other stark warnings, including from Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who bluntly stated, “If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die.”
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Hurricane Milton is expected to strike Florida’s southwest coast on October 9, bringing with it potentially devastating winds of 160 mph and storm surges reaching 15 feet. It is on a direct path towards Tampa Bay, heightening the risks for residents.
Florida lawmakers are taking steps to facilitate evacuations, partnering with Uber to offer free rides to safe zones and suspending tolls across major routes. Despite these efforts, many Floridians are facing challenges due to costly flights and heavy traffic on evacuation routes, as reported by NBC.