Breaking News: Governor DeSantis Prepares Florida for Hurricane Milton
By TNW News - Breaking News Staff | Updated October 9, 2024, Wednesday 3:30 PM CGT

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited logistics staging areas in Lake City as part of the state’s preparation for Hurricane Milton. Thousands of state and local emergency personnel are deployed across Florida, with over 50,000 linemen pre-positioned at strategic locations just outside the storm’s projected path. These teams are prepared to respond to power outages and other emergencies as soon as conditions allow. In his statement, Governor DeSantis emphasized, “We are grateful for all they are doing to help the people of our state, and we pray for their safety as they do their jobs.”

Major Theme Parks Close Ahead of the Storm

Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando have announced closures in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. Walt Disney World will close its theme parks and Disney Springs by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, while Universal Orlando Resort and CityWalk will close by 2 p.m. SeaWorld Orlando will also close Wednesday and Thursday.

Events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights for Thursday have been canceled. Guests should monitor official websites and social media for updates on reopening plans.

Hurricane Milton's Projected Path and Potential Impacts

Hurricane Milton, now a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph, is expected to make landfall near Tampa Bay on Wednesday evening. The storm threatens catastrophic storm surges up to 12 feet, widespread flooding, and significant wind damage across Florida. While slight weakening is possible before landfall, Milton remains a life-threatening storm for millions of Floridians.

Evacuation Warnings and Preparation Efforts

Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie has urged residents in evacuation zones to leave immediately. Governor DeSantis has suspended non-essential state operations to ensure full focus on hurricane response efforts.

Evacuation orders have been issued in Nassau and Clay Counties, where officials are particularly concerned about flooding and storm surge. Residents in flood-prone areas are strongly advised to finalize preparations by Tuesday night and evacuate early Wednesday as the storm’s outer bands begin to approach.

TNW News Hurricane Coverage and Safety Tips

TNW News and its Hurricane Operations Division, led by Chief Todd Nardone, are offering continuous coverage of Hurricane Milton. Real-time forecasts, storm tracking, and evacuation updates can be found on TNWWeather.com and TNW’s social platforms on X, Threads, and Instagram. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and closely follow evacuation instructions.

Final Preparations

As Hurricane Milton nears Florida’s west coast, residents are urged to complete storm preparations, secure their homes, and follow evacuation orders in affected areas. Sandbag distribution sites remain open across the state, and additional preparation tips are available at FloridaDisaster.org.

For evacuation routes and safety measures, use the Know Your Zone tool and keep tuned to TNWWeather.com for the latest updates as the storm approaches.

TNW News – Keeping You Safe, Keeping You Informed