DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News ) – A Dallas-based disaster relief group is preparing to respond to a second major hurricane in a matter of weeks as Hurricane Milton closes in on the Florida Central Gulf Coast.
The once Category 5 storm is expected to make landfall as a Category 4 Wednesday evening. Forecasters said in the past 24 hours, the tropical-storm force winds increased from 80 to 140 miles from its center.
John Hall with “Texans on Mission” said volunteer crews are riding out the storm outside Tampa.
“We’ve got them at different places, some of them are on the ground in Georgia…some of them are in Florida. That will also give them quicker access to get back to the coast back to the Tampa area where they can begin to serve. Obviously with the size of the storm…there are some nerves. Florida has taken on a lot of storms…this area in particular in this last 14 months or so,” he said.
The group has crews spread out across the Carolinas, Tennessee and Florida.
Texans on Mission is rolling out its mobile kitchen to feed thousands of residents as well as helping with clearing debris and rebuilding in areas that are impacted the most.
Florida officials said most residents in evacuation zones have already started to head to safety but not everyone. Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez stressed there’s no time to wait.
“When the storm starts to set in and the wind starts to pick up it’s too dangerous for them to leave at that point and emergency personnel can’t go out and rescue you. So, if you’re still in that danger zone please leave now,” she said.
Milton is expected to bring a deadly storm surge, potentially reaching up to 15 feet, destructive winds and flooding rains.
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