Hurricane Milton remains a ferocious storm that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on Tampa and St. Petersburg , engulfing the populous region with towering storm surges and turning debris from Helene’s devastation 12 days ago into projectiles. While the storm had previously weakened, the U.
S. National Hurricane Center said Tuesday Hurricane Milton was once again a Category 5 storm. Follow AP’s coverage of tropical weather at https://apnews.
com/hub/hurricanes . Here’s the latest: TAMPA, Fla. — Hospitals and other health care facilities on Florida’s Gulf Coast — still reeling from Hurricane Helene — are now revving up for Hurricane Milton.
Long-term care facilities in counties where mandatory evacuations have been issued are taking their patients elsewhere, while hospitals are largely on guard, preparing to stay open through the storm. According to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ website, 10 hospitals have reported evacuations as of Tuesday afternoon, and 300 health care facilities including nursing homes and assisted living facilities have evacuated as of this morning, said Florida Agency for Health Care Administration deputy secretary Kim Smoak.
Steve McCoy, chief of the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight, said it is the state’s “largest evacuation ever.” ▶ Read more about preparations in Florida’s health care facilities . MIAMI — Hurricane Milton’s forecasted trajectory wobbled slightly Tuesday, which means.
