They emptied the stores within minutes out of fear of the hurricane.

The fear of hurricanes is prevalent in the United States. Reports that Hurricane Milton will affect South Florida have caused great fear among the local population. People rushed to supermarkets, stocking up on food from the shelves. The streets were left empty.

STRENGTHENING, HEADING TOWARDS FLORIDA

Hurricane Milton has rapidly strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico, potentially turning into a destructive Category 5 storm, and is currently moving east towards Florida with winds reaching 180 miles per hour. Experts indicate that the hurricane, expected to make landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast late Wednesday, poses a serious threat to a wide area of the state. As the storm approaches Florida, there is a significant risk of severe storm surges and major destruction, especially along the west coast.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS IN FLORIDA

With the approach of Hurricane Milton, extensive measures have begun to be implemented in the state of Florida. Local authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders to protect against the effects of the hurricane. Across the state, 15 million people are under flood warnings, and 11 million have been urged to remain vigilant against the risk of a tropical hurricane. In Florida, where supermarket shelves have been emptied, the stress and anxiety of facing the threat of Hurricane Milton while trying to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene is overwhelming the local population.

According to forecasts from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Milton could cause significant destruction when it reaches Florida's west coast on Wednesday. The NHC reported that the hurricane continues to strengthen due to sea temperatures, and wind speeds at the center may increase. However, it is anticipated that the hurricane may enter a cycle of eye wall replacement before making landfall, during which wind speeds could weaken somewhat.

In addition to this dangerous situation, it is noted that many homes and businesses in the area are at risk due to severe storm surges and flooding that could occur after Hurricane Milton. The National Hurricane Center stated that this hurricane has the potential to be one of the most destructive storms on record for Florida's west coast.

The White House has initiated comprehensive preparations through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) against the potential destruction caused by the hurricane. FEMA is working to minimize the damage from Hurricane Milton by accelerating debris removal operations, especially in areas still feeling the effects of Hurricane Helene. The White House emphasized, "The debris left from the impacts of Hurricane Helene could pose additional threats to lives and livelihoods in the event of another storm," drawing attention to the situation.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND HURRICANE THREATS

NBC meteorologist John Morales highlighted that the underlying reason for the growth of Hurricane Milton is climate change and global warming. "Global warming is causing these types of storms to become more frequent and more intense," said Morales, noting that most people in the path of the hurricane in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula have inadequate resources and are facing a significant danger.

Due to high interest, the National Hurricane Center's website temporarily crashed around 5:00 PM on Monday. Authorities announced shortly after that the site was back online and stable. It was noted that similar technical issues had occurred during previous high-impact weather events.