By Raul Castillo
07 Oct 2024, 22:02 PM EDT
Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade, Florida, declared this Monday a state of emergency in the county due to the imminent arrival of Hurricane Milton, which is already a category 5, although the town is not in the middle of its path.
“We are working closely with the commission, cities and schools to ensure that we are prepared for any impact,” the mayor said Monday at a press conference, according to EFE.
Although Miami-Dade County is not in the path of the hurricane, Levine Cava explained that “there is concern that it will be a major storm (…) with probable impacts that include rain, flooding and tropical storm force winds.” .
Specifically, he reported that several evacuation centers will be opened in the county for people who reside in mobile homes and who decide to evacuate voluntarily.
The councilor urged residents to remain alert and warned that weather conditions could change as the powerful hurricane approaches.
“Miami-Dade is under a tropical storm watch and heavy rain, flooding and winds are expected. Sandbag distribution continues tomorrow, October 8, starting at 7 am, while supplies last. Stay safe, visit http://miamidade.gov/milton for updates,” the mayor wrote in X.
Increased caution throughout Florida
The mayor’s decision is in line with the warning made today by the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, that because it cannot be anticipated with how much force and the exact point where Hurricane Milton will impact, it is necessary that the majority of Floridians take precautions.
“Today you have time to execute the emergency plan. You have time to make sure you, your family and your pets are safe. So please do it. This is not a storm in which you want to take risks… we have to be prepared,” the governor stressed.
For now, 33 counties are under hurricane warning and twenty due to storm surge.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that “the potentially catastrophic” Category 5 Hurricane Milton will experience fluctuations, but “will remain an extremely dangerous hurricane until it makes landfall in Florida.”
A Category 3 landfall is expected Tuesday night or Wednesday.
With information from EFE.
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