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.
