A boat washed up from Hurricane Helene two weeks ago is still on the side in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton's anticipated arrivals Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

FLORIDA’S GULF COAST has braced for the impact of Hurricane Milton’s near-record winds and expected massive storm surge, which could bring destruction to areas already reeling from Helene’s devastation 12 days ago.

Almost the entirety of Florida’s west coast was under a hurricane warning early today as the Category 5 storm and its 265kph winds crept toward the state at 14kph, sucking energy from the Gulf of Mexico’s warm water.

Hurricane Milton has since weakened to a Category 4 storm as it barrelled toward the west coast of Florida.

“Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida,” the US National Hurricane Centre said in an advisory, adding the storm was packing sustained winds of around 250 kph.

Scientists expect the system to weaken slightly before landfall, though it could retain hurricane strength as it churns across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.

It is expected to make landfall tomorrow and Hurricane Milton’s centre could come ashore in the Tampa Bay region, which has not endured a direct hit by a major hurricane in more than a century.

Authorities fear Tampa’s luck is about to run out for the region and its 3.3 million residents.

Volunteers and local community members served over 2,000 sandbags to over 200 Tampa residents ahead of Hurricane Milton Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

US President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida, and US representative Kathy Castor said 7,000 federal workers were mobilised to help in one of the largest mobilisations of federal personnel in history.

“This is the real deal here with Milton,” Tampa mayor Jane Castor told a news conference yesterday. “If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100% of the time.”

The Tampa Bay area is still rebounding from Hurricane Helene and its powerful surge.

It created a wall of water up to 2.4 metre high created even though its eye was 160 kilometres offshore.

Twelve people died there, with the worst damage along a string of barrier islands from St Petersburg to Clearwater.

Forecasters warned that Milton could bring a possible 2.4- to 3.6-metre storm surge, leading to evacuation orders being issued for beach communities all along the Gulf coast.

A Category 5 hurricane churns in the Gulf of Mexico as wildfires rage in the West.

A stunning view of North America this evening. pic.twitter.com/6Neqm7hDlx

— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) October 8, 2024

In Florida, that means anyone who stays is on their own and first responders are not expected to risk their lives to rescue them at the height of the storm.

Stragglers were a problem during Helene and 2022’s Ian.

Many residents failed to heed ample warnings, saying they evacuated during previous storms only to have major surges not materialise.

But there was evidence yesterday that people were getting out before Milton arrives.

A steady stream of vehicles headed north towards the Florida Panhandle on Interstate 75, the main highway on the west side of the peninsula, as residents heeded evacuation orders.

Heavy traffic flows northbound on Interstate-75 as people evacuate the Tampa Bay area ahead of Hurricane Milton's arrival late yesterday Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Traffic clogged the southbound lanes of the highway for miles as other residents headed for the relative safety of Fort Lauderdale and Miami on the other side of the state.

About 240 kilometres south of Tampa, Fort Myers Beach was nearly a ghost town by yesterday afternoon as an evacuation order took effect.

Ian devastated the 5,000-resident community two years ago, with its 4.5-metre storm surge destroying or severely damaging 400 homes and businesses.

Fourteen people died there as they tried to ride out the storm, and dozens had to be rescued.

On Monday, the few residents who could be found were racing against the clock to safeguard their buildings and belongings. None said they were staying.

The signs of Ian’s devastation remain visible everywhere. Rebuilt homes stand next to others in various states of construction. There are numerous vacant lots, which were once rare.

“This whole street used to be filled out with houses,” said Mike Sandell, owner of Pool-Rific Services.

His workers were removing and storing pumps and heaters on Monday from his clients’ pools so they would not get destroyed.

Home construction supplies like bricks, piping and even workers’ outhouses lined the streets, potential projectiles that could do further damage if a surge hits.