While the Canadian Snowbird Association asks its members to wait for the passage of Milton before taking the road to Florida, Quebecers who have lived there for several years are stocking up before the arrival of the category 5 hurricane, which is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening.
• Also read: Here’s why Category 5 Hurricane Milton is intensifying so quickly
• Also read: Florida prepares for Category 5 Hurricane Milton
“It risks hitting hard (…) If there are some who still leave this week, it’s not really a good idea. If there is damage, like roads that become impassable, we have to give people time to do their work,” says the vice-president of the Canadian Snowbird Association, Johanne Blain.
The eye on Tampa
For the moment, the eye of the hurricane, which will bring significant amounts of rain and winds that can reach more than 280 km/h, is heading straight towards the northwest of Florida, precisely towards Sarasota, to the south of Tampa, says Alexander DaSilva, hurricane expert, for Accuweather.
Accuweather hurricane specialist Alexander DaSilva.
Photo provided by Accuweather
The entire west coast north of Naples, as well as southern Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral to the east, are expected to be “heavily affected” as the hurricane crosses land and then out into the Atlantic, he added. he.
Walt Disney could close
Even the Walt Disney location in Orlando could close its doors. Monday afternoon, Walt Disney World confirmed to Newspaper that its site remained open, but that the path of the hurricane was closely monitored.
Schools closed
For their part, Quebecers who have lived in Florida for several years are expecting the worst, while most schools in the greater Tampa area are closed until Wednesday and several mandatory evacuations were announced Monday afternoon.
When joined by The Journal On Monday, many were busy stocking up on food, barricading their windows or refueling their cars, while gasoline was starting to run out at some gas stations.
Several gas stations in Florida began to run out on Monday, two days before the arrival of Hurricane Milton.
AFP
“Already on Saturday, things were starting to run out at the grocery store. People buy bottles of water (…) essential things, because after the hurricane there are the consequences, like electrical outages,” illustrates Luc Langevin, who has lived in Wesley Chapel, north of Tampa since now 10 years.
Luc Langevin, a resident of Tampa for 10 years, is preparing for Hurricane Milton. He is accompanied by his wife, Denise Wagner.
Photo provided by Luc Langevin
What’s more, the significant amounts of rain received in recent weeks have “saturated” the ground, they worry.
“Two hurricanes close together like that, I’ve never seen that,” says André Claveau, a resident of Deerfield Beach, near Pompano, since 2006.
Still under the influence of‘Helene
The passage of the hurricane Helene also destroyed the sand dunes, which served as “barriers”, on September 26. “This is worrying, since water levels could rise by 3 to 6 meters depending on the sector,” specifies Mr. DaSilva.
In Miami, volunteers fill sandbags in anticipation of the hurricane’s arrival, which is expected to raise sea levels by several feet.
AFP
Debris and furniture destroyed by floods caused by the passage ofHelenehave not even had time to be collected, maintains Jacques Julien, established in Naples for 37 years.
“All of this is going to end up in the water,” laments the adopted Floridian, aged 75.
