Filipinos in Tampa strongly urged to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton

NEW YORK — Despite the looming threat of Hurricane Milton and warnings from authorities, some Filipinos have chosen to remain in their homes, an official said Tuesday (US time).

Speaking to GMA Integrated News some 30 hours before Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in Tampa, Florida, Philippine Honorary Consul Sharol Noblejas urged Filipinos to evacuate while there is still time.

Although they cannot force those who refuse to leave their homes to evacuate, Noblejas reminded the community that Florida authorities will not conduct search and rescue operations until after the storm passes.

"There's nothing more we can do. We've provided phone numbers for assistance, but we won't be able to reach them until it's safe to return," Noblejas said.

"It will be extremely difficult to help anyone once they are in danger."

Noblejas said the hurricane can cause a storm surge reaching 15 feet that could submerge homes. 

"Hopefully, if they're in a two-story house, they can move to the second floor or even the roof if necessary. But with a Category 5 storm, even a wooden house can easily be destroyed," she said.

Contingency plan

At present, the Honorary Consulate has a contingency plan in place to assist Filipinos across Florida.

"Our current plan is for people to head to shelters. If their homes are no longer safe, there are 36 shelters across the state, and the government has set up 14 large shelters along the I-75 corridor, each capable of holding over 1,000 people," Noblejas said.

"Many are attempting to evacuate, but they're running out of gas on the highway, with no more fuel available for 110 miles. The priority is to reach the shelters before the storm hits, which is expected around 2 a.m. tomorrow," she added.

Tampa is home to 26,000 Filipinos, and since Monday, nearly half a million people from the area have started evacuating.

Milton, which exploded on Monday into one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record, was forecast to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday, threatening a stretch of Florida's densely populated west coast that is still reeling from the devastating Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.

Mass exodus

"It's a mass exodus," Noblejas said. "The roads are packed with cars. People are either leaving or heading to shelters. I've heard some still plan to stay, but we've issued an advisory urging them to evacuate, as many will not survive the storm."

The official pointed out that Hurricane Miltion "is the strongest hurricane in over 100 years."

A direct hit on the bay would be the first since 1921, when the now-sprawling Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area was a relative backwater. Today it is home to more than 3 million people.

For those who would opt to stay, Noblejas advised them to "make sure to get sandbags and board up your windows. Ensure you have enough food and water, as you may be without electricity for a week or more."

"But if you can evacuate now, please do so," she reiterated. —with Reuters/KBK, GMA Integrated News