The Eye of the Storm: <a href="https://www.archyde.com/prepare-for-hurricane-milton-gulf-storm-threatens-floridas-west-coast/" title="Prepare for <a href="https://www.archyde.com/prepare-for-hurricane-milton-gulf-storm-threatens-floridas-west-coast/" title="Prepare for Hurricane Milton: Gulf Storm Threatens Florida's West Coast”>Hurricane Milton: Gulf Storm Threatens Florida's West Coast”>Hurricane Milton Hits Florida
So, Hurricane Milton has taken a trip to Florida like a tourist on a mission to ruin someone’s vacation, and boy, did he come prepared! Several lives have been tragically lost, and nearly two million homes are without power. But don’t worry! We have the inspirational Dutchman, Eric van Hofwegen, from Tampa, who’s managed to keep the lights on – for now, at least. “It could very well be that the power goes out in five minutes,” he says, clearly channeling his inner survivalist guru. “But we are prepared.” Oh yes, Eric, because nothing says preparation like being a few minutes ahead of disaster!
Er, quick side note: Flooding is as common in Tampa as tourists doing the conga in the streets, so the emergency services there have halted operations due to winds that’re probably strong enough to blow the feathers off a flamingo. Meanwhile, over in St. Petersburg, the drinking water supply has apparently decided it needs a timeout after a water main break, leaving residents to make do with ice cubes for hydration. Now, isn’t that fantastic?
Third Hurricane for Van Hofwegen
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Eric, who is on hurricane number three at this point. Not to be callous about a natural disaster, but this guy is practically a hurricane veteran. “We still had the planks in the garage from last time,” he proudly announced on Goedemorgen Nederland on NPO 1, sounding less like a homeowner preparing for a storm and more like a war general prepping for battle. “It sounds strange, but we are prepared.” Sounds strange? Nah, my friend, it sounds like you’re taking “better safe than sorry” to Olympic levels!
In a stroke of genius, Eric has made sure he has filled bathtubs and buckets with water, because heaven forbid we waste precious droplets when a hurricane decides to bath the living room with unwanted décor. And let’s not forget those frozen bottles of water and a stocked freezer –because nothing says prudent planning like a hurricane-induced food festival on ice!
Hurricane Weakens, But Still Dangerous
Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center has delivered the news that Milton has weakened to a category 1 – like a disappointed parent whose child fumbled their way into the big leagues but still manages to ruin dinner. Winds have slipped from a concerned 190 km/h to a “cozy” 145 km/h. But authorities are still waving the red flags, warning Florida residents about the potential for flooding. Because even a weakened hurricane can still cause quite the ruckus!
As if that wasn’t enough, the eye of Milton made landfall in the picturesque Siesta Key, which, much like your friend who shows up at the party uninvited, is just a tad too much. Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, went on to discuss the “minor” detail of 19 tornadoes and 116 tornado warnings – I mean, it’s just a typical Tuesday in the Sunshine State, right?
Florida is preparing for the strongest hurricane in 100 years, but: ‘Don’t immediately believe all the images on social media’
