Are Florida West Coast Residents Stocking Up or Evacuating

Hurricane Milton and How its Effected Residents in Bradenton

and Sarasota Counties

Residents of Bradenton and Sarasota counties are scrambling to prepare for Hurricane Milton, a category four storm expected to hit Florida's west coast on Wednesday, October 9th, bringing devastating storm surges and winds. With the recent impact of Hurricane Helene's destruction, many families on the West Coast are deciding whether to evacuate or stock up and stay put.

Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 51 counties, including Sarasota and

Manatee, issuing evacuation orders for barrier islands and neighborhoods prone to flooding.

Grocery stores and regional gas stations reported long lines as residents rushed to buy water,

non-perishable food, and fuel, and many residents have boarded up their homes and businesses.

Emergency shelters have opened across the region, and local officials are urging people to take this storm seriously.

"This is the first storm we've put shutters up for since Irma," said Bradenton resident Molly

Murphy. "We've decided to evacuate to Orlando. It's not worth taking the risk to stay."

Some families in the area are choosing to ride out the storm despite the state of emergency and warnings from officials. Kendall Stanley and her family decided to stay.

"We are getting nervous, but we stocked up on supplies and boarded up the house." Staley said. "This is definitely the most freaked out I've seen my parents for a storm in years."

Officials cautioned that Milton's high winds and torrential rain could cause significant power

outages, uproot trees, and cause damage to infrastructure.

It is estimated there will be storm surges between 8 and 10 feet along the coastline, with 18

inches of rainfall in certain areas, raising significant concerns about coastal and inland flooding.

Sarasota Resident Bridget Mobley is evacuating with her family to the emergency shelter set up

in Tatum Ridge Elementary School due to the uncertainty of Milton's intensity and its effect on

Sarasota.

Mobley said, "I wasn't planning on evacuating, but with recent storm updates, I can't take the

chance with my parents because of their health issues; if the power goes out or there's flooding, I won't be able to help them."

By Thursday, October 10th, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a category three storm after wearing slightly: even with the storm slowing to a category 3, coastal communities experienced severe effects and destruction.

In Sarasota County, the storm surge reached 10 feet, causing streets to flood and submerging

many people and homes for hours. Intense wind speeds caused roofs to be torn off homes and

businesses, toppling trees and power lines.

Emergency responders worked tirelessly in the aftermath of Milton to rescue residents trapped by rising water and debris. While 80,000 people sought refuge in shelters, the storm caused massive power outages, leaving over 3.4 million people without electricity.

There were over 198,000 power outages in Manatee County and about 200,000 in Sarasota

County, where Milton made landfall on Siesta Key. The power in these areas recently returned

after three days without power.

Although the storm was less severe than predicted, many residents are glad they took the safety measures they did. Joe murphy said, "We prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. Thankfully the damage to our house wasn't as bad as expected, but I'm thankful we weren't home."

Local officials acknowledged the efforts of emergency responders and the resilience of residents who came together to face yet another storm in an already difficult hurricane season. The devastation caused by Hurricane Milton shows the unpredictability of natural disasters and the importance of preparing correctly.

Despite the exhaustion caused by facing back-to-back hurricanes, West Coast residents are

relieved that power is being restored and flood water subsided. Shifting resident's focus to

recovery, grateful that the storm impact was less severe than predicted.