Hurricane Milton: Florida Gov. DeSantis warns "there will be fatalities" when storm hits

Addressing the state about the incoming Hurricane Milton on Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said there is "still time to evacuate" as the Category 4 storm is expected to make landfall overnight, or on Thursday morning.

"Certainly, it would be safe to do a very short evacuation, tens of miles, rather than get on the interstate and go," DeSantis said. "The roads are still open. People can do that. But I just want to warn people that the conditions are likely going to continue to deteriorate throughout the course of the day," he added.

Previously predicted to be a Category 5 storm, DeSantis said, "While there is the hope that [Milton] will weaken more before landfall, there is high confidence that this hurricane is going to pack a major punch and do an awful lot of damage," further suggesting that if residents in state of emergency areas choose not to evacuate their homes, "there will be fatalities."

Speaking further on local shelters, Kevin Guthrie, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management Director, said, "If you're making a decision and say, 'it's too late, there's not enough room for me,' — there is room. Please come. Your home and belongings can be replaced, but you cannot."

The Tampa Bay area, home to more than 3.3 million people, faces the possibility of widespread destruction after avoiding direct hits from major hurricanes for more than a century.

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