They keep adding new sections to this so this is why I say it's a partial quote:
Begin partial quote from:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/live-blog/hurricane-milton-live-updates-rcna174253
Hurricane Milton live updates: 'Potentially catastrophic' Category 5 storm takes aim at Florida
What to know
- Hurricane Milton has intensified rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a "potentially catastrophic" Category 5 storm.
- The storm is making its way east toward Florida and is expected to make landfall late Wednesday on the state's Gulf Coast.
- As Florida continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, as many as 15 million people are under flood watches there and 11 million are at risk for tropical tornadoes tomorrow and Wednesday. Mandatory evacuations are underway along areas of the state's west coast.
- Milton is forecast to reach peak intensity tomorrow morning and then weaken to a strong Category 3 ahead of landfall.
National Hurricane Center website crashed briefly
The National Hurricane Center's website crashed about 5 p.m. ET today. The website hosts hurricane forecasts, warnings and advisories.
"The NHC site was down for about 15 minutes, but it’s back up now and stable. We’ll have more information to share soon," said Erica Grow Cei, a public affairs specialist for the National Weather Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The National Weather Service has experienced network outages and technology troubles during high-impact weather events in the recent past. In April, it experienced outages during an outbreak of tornadoes in the Midwest, according to The Washington Post.
Milton continues to grow stronger
Hurricane Milton continues to grow stronger this evening, clocking sustained winds of nearly 180 mph, according to the latest National Hurricane Center forecast.
“Milton is expected to grow in size and remain an extremely dangerous hurricane when it approaches the west coast of Florida on Wednesday. A large area of destructive storm surge will occur along parts of the west coast of Florida on Wednesday. This is an extremely life-threatening situation,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in its 5 p.m. ET forecast.
Milton is expected to make landfall somewhere on Florida’s west coast overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning.
The National Hurricane Center said that Milton could strengthen more today but that it could be beginning an eyewall replacement cycle, which would cause the storm to grow but also slow wind speeds at its center.
Eyewall replacement is a typical process for hurricanes, as thunderstorms on the outside of the storms coalesce into ring structures and then replace the old eyewalls.
While winds could weaken, the potential for damage and destruction remains extreme.
“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” forecasters wrote.
Florida meteorologist becomes emotional while reporting
In an update on Hurricane Milton's rapid growth for NBC South Florida, hurricane specialist John Morales became visibly emotional.
“I apologize. This is just horrific,” he said.
Hurricane watches issued for some areas still recovering from Hurricane Helene
Parts of Florida are bracing for Hurricane Milton's arrival amid ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall near the city of Perry less than two weeks ago.
Hurricane watches are in effect in the southern parts of Florida’s Big Bend region, where Helene came ashore and battered towns and cities before it moved into Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
The National Weather Service yesterday acknowledged the stress and mental toll on residents dealing with two successive hurricanes, posting some tips on X for navigating “fatigue due to disasters.”
The White House detailed in a statement this afternoon how FEMA is assisting with preparations, particularly in areas still reeling from Helene.
“Debris remaining from the impacts of Hurricane Helene poses additional threats to lives and livelihoods if another storm occurs,” the statement said. “FEMA is supporting the State of Florida to expedite the removal of debris from Hurricane Helene in the Tampa region in advance of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.”
Widespread school closings announced in Florida
A slew of Florida school districts have announced closings as the state prepares for Milton’s arrival.
Schools will be closed tomorrow in more than 20 counties, including Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, Osceola and Okeechobee.
Additional closures across much of the state will go into effect Wednesday and Thursday, including in Broward and Nassau counties.
More information about school closings can be found on the state Education Department’s website.
Several universities have canceled classes this week, as well: Florida International University, the University of Tampa, the University of Central Florida in Orlando, the University of Florida in Gainesville and the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Evacuate and don't worry about looters, Florida officials say
Floridians in Milton's path should flee for safety and not give a second thought to potential looting or property theft, authorities said in a news conference.
"This is a law-and-order state," said Dave Kerner, executive director of Florida Highway Patrol. He promised a robust law enforcement presence in evacuated areas.
"We will not tolerate people that are looting, that are trying to take advantage of people that are going through an emergency," he said. "So do not hesitate to evacuate out of fear that your property will be damaged or stolen."
Bumper-to-bumper traffic has clogged interstates as residents of Florida's west coast evacuate ahead of the hurricane's anticipated arrival Wednesday. Shoulders have been open to traffic, but authorities do not plan to reverse the flow of cars in lanes that usually go the opposite direction (a practice known as "contraflow").
"We need that interstate system for staging assets and resources," state Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said.
FEMA officials to travel to Florida in preparation for Milton
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will travel to Florida today to meet with state and local officials ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival, the agency said.
The White House said in a a release that FEMA's preparations include mobilizing search-and-rescue teams, debris experts, wastewater specialists and ambulances to support local response efforts. The agency has 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water ready for those affected by Helene and Milton, the White House said.
“FEMA has sufficient funding to both support the response to Hurricane Milton and continue to support the response to Hurricane Helene — including funding to support first responders and provide immediate assistance to disaster survivors,” it said.
After her visit to Florida, Criswell is expected to travel back to North Carolina to oversee Helene recovery efforts there, but other FEMA leaders will remain in Florida for the duration of the storm.
DeSantis explains why he has yet to speak to the White House
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he has yet to speak to President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris as his state prepares for Hurricane Milton.
Asked at a news conference this afternoon about NBC News' report that he had refused to take calls from Harris, DeSantis said that he didn't know Harris had been trying to reach him and that he has not been in contact with Biden because federal authorities have granted every request from Tallahassee.
“The president has approved what we asked for,” DeSantis told reporters.
“We’re thankful for that,” he added, rejecting suggestions that he has dodged the White House out of political animus. “If there’s something we need that they don’t approve, I will not hesitate to call him.”
Tampa airport will suspend operations tomorrow morning
Tampa International Airport will halt operations beginning tomorrow at 9 a.m. local time and stay closed until sometime after the storm.
“The Airport anticipates reopening after a damage assessment that will begin as soon as it is safe to do so,” officials said in a statement.
Three other airports managed by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority — Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City airports — will close on similar timelines, officials said.
Tampa International Airport is in an “A” evacuation zone and thus will not be open to the public or serve as a shelter for people or vehicles during the storm. Instead, airport personnel will work today and tomorrow morning to protect aircraft and jet bridges, secure ground equipment and prepare the airfield and terminals ahead of the hurricane’s arrival.
After Hurricane Helene flooded their home, couple evacuate again
Reporting from Madeira Beach, Florida
John and Rhonda Keigher packed one last possession from their storm-damaged home on Madeira Beach, Florida, before they drove away: a blue and white dollhouse that Rhonda built 10 years ago.
They carefully carried the dollhouse to the trunk of their car as they prepared to find a safe place out of Hurricane Milton’s path.
“We don’t have a house, but we have this house,” John said, trying to smile.
Flooding from Hurricane Helene last month damaged their home, with water reaching 5 feet. This is the couple's second evacuation.
The Keighers estimated that for flood, hurricane and wind insurance, they paid $20,000 last year alone. But even if they get insurance money, they do not plan to rebuild, John said.
Rhonda, looking at the pile of debris they pulled out of their mud-covered home, said, “We are exhausted.” They plan to move to Georgia.
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