Hurricane Milton sparks police vigilance against looters as residents flee storm (original) (raw)

Hurricane Milton has intensified to a Category 5 storm and is projected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday night, with locals stockpiling essentials and boarding up homes

Hurricane Milton is slated to hit the Tampa Bay Area Wednesday

In Florida, panic is settling in as residents frenziedly gather sandbags, plywood, and groceries while draining gas stations dry in anticipation of Hurricane Milton's landfall.

The monster storm, now a fearsome Category 5, is expected to batter the state by Wednesday night. With essentials vanishing from store shelves at an alarming rate, authorities are pleading with citizens to heed evacuation directives.

Yet, some Floridians are stubbornly ignoring the warnings, opting to stay put in their homes, squarely in harm's way. As the hurricane barrels in, law enforcement gears up to combat potential looting in evacuated neighborhoods. "It's alarming that people directly in the path of the storm who live on the coast aren't evacuating to shelters," declared Amanda Landis, 44, head honcho of Ocala Business Consulting, earlier this morning.

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Authorities are pleading with citizens to heed evacuation directives (

Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

"Yes, shelters are probably a bit uncomfortable, but it sure beats dying in a natural disaster. I mean, it's a question of: do you want to die in your home or rebuild it after the storm has passed?" Gabe, 29, clearly rattled, was spotted leaving Lowes stocking up on sandbags and plywood before bracing his car for evacuation. "I'm going north to get away from all this," he declared firmly. "It's not safe here."

Lieutenant Paul Bloom from the Marion County Sheriff's Office says his squad has been strategizing "since last Saturday in preparation" for the onslaught of Hurricane Milton.

The National Weather Service has projected up to 18 inches of rainfall (

Image:

Hurricane Central)

"We've already got some shelters that are opening today after 6PM," he confirmed. "Seven shelters and a special needs shelter. We have a mandatory evacuation for RV and mobile homes. If people choose not to evacuate, you have to understand that we may not be able to respond to you during the storm."

Bloom also mentioned that the county is running "sandbag operations," where residents can obtain sandbags at no cost. "The folks in the southern part of the county are going to have a different experience than in the north," he elaborated.

Tampa hasn't been directly hit by a major Hurricane since 1921 (

Image:

NOAA/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

"Folks need to be prepared because there will likely be power outages. Deputies will also be out patrolling during the storm. We want to make sure people are safe. For people who break into other people's homes during the storm, the consequences will be enhanced."

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"If you stand in front of a jury, they may have been some of the people who evacuated, so you'll have to tell them that." With wind speeds surpassing 130 mph, Milton is predicted to bring perilous conditions to the area, and locals are being encouraged to take safety measures.

The National Weather Service has projected up to 18 inches of rainfall. Marion County, along with neighboring counties including Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, and Sumter, is bracing for the storm's effects.

While most of Tampa - which hasn't experienced a major hurricane since 1921 - is evacuating, Marion County is witnessing heightened anxiety as its residents gear up for the worst.