Hurricane Milton Strengthens To A Category 2 Storm As Florida Prepares For Massive Disruptions, Evacuations

Hurricane Milton intensified to a Category 2 storm on Monday as Florida braces for what could be its largest evacuation in seven years. The National Hurricane Center issued hurricane and storm surge watches for parts of Florida, with Milton expected to land near Tampa Bay on Wednesday. State officials are preparing emergency fuel and charging stations along evacuation routes for gas and electric vehicles based on lessons learned from previous storms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned that Hurricane Milton will have a major impact. He urged residents, particularly those on Florida's west coast and barrier islands, to finalize their hurricane preparedness plans and prepare for evacuations.