With Hurricane Milton on his way to the West Coast of Florida, South Floridians are preparing for the outer bands of the storm. With Milton currently strengthening to a Category 5 and planning to hit Tampa at a Cat 3, it is imperative that everyone within range of the outer bands of the hurricane take the appropriate precautions for flooding and raging wind gusts.
Evacuations have already been called all around Florida, and Palm Beach County is expected to receive winds from 39 to 57 mph and severe flash flooding. Palm Beach County schools, including West Boca, will be closed Wednesday and Thursday this week.
To quickly prepare for Hurricane Milton, I highly suggest running to your nearest grocery store or Walmart and stocking up on water. Just a few jugs or packs of water are just fine, there’s no need for an apocalyptic raid.
While you’re there, I would also grab additional supplies like a pack of batteries, wipes, and some non-refrigerated food items. Personally, I’d go for some classic PB&J’s, trail mix, Poptarts, and plenty of chips and salsa. It is important to know what other items may be needed in case of flooding or power outages, like flashlights, generators, a manual radio, and a charged power bank for your cell phones.
If you have patio furniture or personal belongings kept typically outside your home, they should be brought inside until the storm passes. This minimizes the possibility of damage to your home or others. Hurricane shutters only need to be put up when your area is in danger of a Hurricane watch, so I would just make sure you know how to open, close, and lock your shutters in case.
And, if you have to venture out into the storm, please remember what to do in case your vehicle gets caught in a flash flood. If you have to drive through a large puddle and your car begins to hydroplane, do not press on the brake. Slowly release the gas and focus on keeping your wheel straight. Most cars can stall in even six inches of water, so stay alert to the road ahead of you. If you hear or see a flooded road, try to find an alternate route or just cozy up inside.
Please stay safe and vigilant as we face the outer bands of Milton. For more live updates on how the storm will affect Palm Beach County, please visit the Palm Beach Post.
After the storm has passed, consider finding ways to help those already devastated by Helene and affected by Milton. The Red Cross Foundation has many resources available for both donation and volunteer purposes.
