Hurricane chaser in Florida says Milton prompted ‘race’ for residents to evacuate
Storm chaser Mike Boylan of Mike’s Weather Page has been following excessive climate since 2020, touring to six completely different states to accomplish that.
His newest chase, Hurricane Milton, hits shut to his coronary heart as he’s a Florida native.
Boylan advised Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview, “To me, it’s sad. You get kind of numb to the idea of living here that it can’t happen. And Helene was a rude wake-up call. Maybe that really got people fired up in a weird way.” (See the video on the high of this text.)
HURRICANE MILTON EVACUATIONS IN FLORIDA: WHAT TO PACK AHEAD OF THE STORM
He is at the moment in the Tampa Bay area, in Oldsmar, and mentioned Hurricane Helene not too long ago devastated the realm.
And Milton could also be worse.
Mike Boylan of Mike’s Weather Page has traveled to six completely different states monitoring storms. (Fox News Digital)
“I’ve got a debris pile behind me just littered with debris for miles and miles and miles. And it’s the same scene up and down all of the Tampa Bay region,” he mentioned.
“This is one story of many, of course, that’s unfolding. And it’s just sad for these folks — they lost everything. Now they’re dealing with possibly a higher storm surge,” he mentioned.
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On Monday, Hurricane Milton strengthened from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane with winds predicted to attain 180 mph, FOX Weather reported.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that Milton poses an “extremely serious threat” to Florida with life-threatening impacts.
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Boylan mentioned he is noticing a rise in visitors on roads as individuals rush to evacuate the Sunshine State.
“I sense a little panic, a race. Because the storms will be here tomorrow [Wednesday] night. A lot of plywood and trucks. A lot of people [are] still evacuating, boarding up — [a] familiar sight living in Florida,” mentioned Boylan.
Residents ought to pay attention to officers and depart zones the place evacuations have been mandated, storm chaser Boylan mentioned. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
He mentioned residents ought to pay attention to officers and depart zones the place evacuations have been mandated.
“Being a Floridian — Floridians are cussed, a few of us. Seeing now I used to be simply up there for Helene and seeing floor zero up there, what we obtained right here with a storm 100 miles away — the surge in our space, tens of hundreds of houses are flooded proper now in our Tampa Bay area.”
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“Now, you add to that, you take it seriously. I mean, you can’t run. Most hurricane deaths are water related. And now we’ve got a flood risk that’s inland with this rainfall. And then we got a surge,” mentioned Boylan.
Boylan traveled to Texas to cowl Hurricane Beryl (pictured right here) and mentioned it was the second-worst hurricane he is ever tracked. (Mike’s Weather Page)
Boylan mentioned he feels Milton “in the air,” sharing that the warmth is an indication that he skilled throughout Hurricane Ian in 2022 and in different storms.
He mentioned the worst hurricane he is tracked was Ian, with Beryl in Texas being the second worst, as a Category 1 storm.
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“Now that it’s my turf, it’s different. When I storm-chase in Louisiana, there’s a one-way road, and it’s in and out. I don’t know where the heck I’m going,” mentioned Boylan.
Now, nonetheless, “this is my turf,” he mentioned. “So, I’ve lived for this moment.”
