Introduction: Hurricane Milton

BELLEAH BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s storm-battered
Gulf Coast battled a Category 5 hurricane as workers
scrambled to search for debris

left behind by Helen two weeks ago.

The center of Hurricane Milton could make landfall
Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area, which hasn’t
been hit by a major hurricane in more than a century.

Scientists expect the system to weaken slightly
before landfall, although it may retain hurricane
strength as central Florida turns toward the

Atlantic. This would largely spare other states
affected by Helen, which killed at least 230
people as it traveled from Florida to the Carolinas.

“This is the real deal with Milton,” Tampa
Mayor Gene Castor said at a news conference.
“When you go up against Mother
Nature, Mother Nature will win 100% of the time.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said
Monday that it was imperative to remove
Helen’s remains before Milton’s arrival to prevent
them from becoming a projectile. More
than 300 vehicles collected debris on Sunday.

As evacuations were ordered, forecasters
warned that storm surges of 8 to 12 feet
(2.4 to 3.6 meters) were

possible in Tampa Bay. National
Hurricane Center spokeswoman Maria

Torres said it was the

highest ever predicted for
the region and nearly double the level
two weeks ago during Helen.

Storms can also cause widespread
flooding. 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm)
of rain is expected across mainland
Florida and the Keys, with up to
15 inches (38 cm)

expected in some areas.

“It will be a flying rocket”

Emergency crews in Pinellas County,
on the peninsula that makes up
Tampa Bay, removed

beach chairs and other
items that could
have been blown away by
strong winds. Elsewhere,

ovens, chairs, refrigerators
and kitchen tables
were waiting in piles.

Pellier Beach resident Sarah Steslicki
said she was disappointed the
trash wasn’t picked up sooner.

“They were just hanging around
and not picking up the trash, and
now they’re fighting to pick it up,” Steslicki

said Monday. “If it hits, it will be a flying
missile. Things float in the air and fly away.”