As Hurricane Milton nears Florida, residents have been urged to have a “pet plan.”
Following a week after Hurricane Helene devastated the Southeast, the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center on Sunday, said that Milton will quickly intensify as it moves eastward and northeastward, making landfall in Florida on Wednesday.
The storm, expected to intensify rapidly into a major hurricane, has top sustained wind speeds of 80 mph, according to the 2 p.m. hurricane advisory. At that time, the Category 1 storm was about 815 miles west-southwest of Tampa, Florida. Milton is forecasted to have winds in excess of 110 miles per hour by Monday or Tuesday.
Michelle Reidy and her son, Jordan Reidy, carry their pets back to their second floor apartment after fleeing when Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. As… More Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Forecast models differ significantly, but the most probable trajectory indicates that Milton could make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday, maintaining hurricane status as it traverses central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. This path would largely spare other southeastern states already devastated by Hurricane Helene, which inflicted catastrophic damage from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains and resulted in a death toll that had reached 230 people by Sunday.
There are risks of life-threatening storm surge and wind impacts late Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents of affected areas in Florida have been warned to not only have a hurricane plan ready, but a “pet plan.”
On Sunday, in a statement on the Florida Division of Emergency Management website, the agency warned residents to have a disaster plan that includes steps to consider for pet owners.
“If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS OR ANIMALS BEHIND. It is unlikely for pets or larger animals to survive on their own. If by some chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return. Prepare now and protect your family and pets before the next disaster strikes,”
According to the agency’s website, steps laid out include having a safe place to take your pets and assembling a portable pet disaster kit including leashes and any medication needed.
This comes as pets have often been left behind as residents evacuate during high impact storms, leaving organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States, coordinating relocation and rescue efforts.
After Helene’s devastating path, animals have been moved to facilities in Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and D.C., where they are up for adoption.
The Humane Society of the United States, in a news release on Monday, said they are on the ground in Florida and Tennessee assisting multiple communities with animal needs in the aftermath of deadly Hurricane Helene.
Meanwhile, as Milton nears Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Saturday for 35 counties.
DeSantis wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he had directed Florida’s Division of Emergency Management and Department of Transportation to coordinate all available personnel and resources to help with debris removal.
“We will continue staging state assets to prepare for efficient search and rescue, power restoration, and roadway clearing.”
In an update on Sunday, De Santis issued Executive Order 24-215, amending a previous order and declared a state of emergency for 51 counties.
As of Sunday, Florida Division of Emergency Management has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Level 1 for Tropical Storm Milton and are leading coordination efforts for the State Emergency Response Team.
DeSantis said Sunday that while Milton’s path is uncertain, it’s clear that Florida is going to be hit hard — “I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point.”
“You have time to prepare — all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” the governor said. “If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”