Editor’s note: This page reflects the news on Hurricane Milton for Tuesday, Oct. 8. For the latest updates on Hurricane Milton’s projected path and landfall, read USA TODAY’s live hurricane coverage for Wednesday, Oct. 9.

TAMPA, Fla. − Hurricane Milton regained Category 5 strength Tuesday as it barreled across the Gulf of Mexico toward the Florida Peninsula, where millions scrambled to wrap up storm preparations and evacuate vulnerable areas.

The National Hurricane Center said the Milton’s storm surge presents an “extremely life-threatening situation” for the western coast of Florida, adding that damaging winds and torrential rainfall will extend well inland and outside the forecast cone. Hurricane warning maps show Florida blanketed in red and orange alerts.

Milton had undergone stunningly rapid intensification Monday, its sustained winds reaching 180 mph. By Tuesday morning, the wind speed dropped dramatically before climbing to 160 mph Tuesday evening.

While the storm is expected to weaken before it makes landfall Wednesday night, “Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center, warned in an update Tuesday. Milton’s center is predicted to make landfall somewhere along the coast between Tarpon Springs and Cape Coral, according to the hurricane center’s official forecast.

“Again, it is critical to remember that even at 24 hours out, it is still not possible to pinpoint an exact landfall location,” Richard Pasch, a senior hurricane specialist at the hurricane center, wrote in a forecast discussion Tuesday night. The center’s average margin of error at 24 hours is 48 miles.

Milton is forecast to cross the state in a northeasterly direction, exiting the east coast somewhere between Daytona Beach and Stuart on Thursday morning.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told state residents in the path of Milton that “time is running out” before landfall, likely as a Category 3 storm. The National Weather Service in Tampa warned Tuesday that if Milton stays on course, it would be “the most powerful hurricane to hit Tampa Bay in over 100 years.”

More than 1 million people were under evacuation orders in at least 16 counties, and both numbers were expected to climb as Milton draws closer to a coastline still recovering from Hurricane Helene’s strike less than two weeks ago. More than 20 million of Florida’s 22 million residents are under either hurricane or tropical storm warning.

In St. Petersburg, Julie Bost fled for safety. Bost, 32, was a new mom with a 3-month-old baby when her home was flooded by Hurricane Idalia last year, causing $65,000 in damage. “I couldn’t go through another flood,” Bost told the USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida. “I told my husband I couldn’t handle that again emotionally.”

‘We’re just exhausted’:The battered and storm-weary prepare for landfall. Again.

Milton’s path updates:Hurricane Milton tracker

Developments:

∎ Milton was centered about 405 miles southwest of Tampa, rolling northeast near 12 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. ET update.

∎ Storm surge could reach the higher levels forecast — up to 15 feet — if it arrives at high tide. Tropical storm force winds are expected to begin reaching the west coast on Wednesday afternoon.

∎ Rainfall amounts of 5 to 12 inches, with localized totals up to 18 inches, were expected across central to northern portions of the Florida Peninsula through Thursday, the hurricane center said. “Life-threatening” flooding was possible.

∎ A tornado risk will be highest on Wednesday, according to forecasters. The hurricane center warned that a few tornadoes are possible over central and southern Florida through Thursday night.

∎ Over 17% of gas stations across Florida — more than 7,900 total stations — were without fuel by Tuesday evening, according to GasBuddy’s fuel availability tracker. After hundreds of thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate ahead of Milton’s landfall, many had packed gas stations, causing long lines and fuel shortages.

∎ Thousands of residents have evacuated to Tampa Bay-area public shelters, according to Pinellas County officials. Authorities reiterated that those in evacuation zones should “LEAVE NOW,” adding that the county has “10 public shelters with plenty of space left, including pet-friendly and special needs. You still have time to leave, but the window is closing fast.”

∎ The Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for Florida on Tuesday in anticipation widespread healthcare needs after Milton batters the state. Secretary Xavier Becerra’s declaration gives healthcare providers greater flexibility in caring for people on Medicare or Medicaid. Becerra also deployed around 100 first repsonders with medical equipment. The emergency declaration is the agency’s second in less than two weeks. President Joe Biden also issued a disaster declaration Monday.

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Closer look at Milton’s path:How the storm is unfolding

Florida evacuees cross state lines to escape Milton’s wrath

In central Georgia, over a hundred miles north of the state line, Florida residents evacuating ahead of Hurricane Milton were stuck in snarled traffic and packed gas stations.

On Tuesday, a Buc-ee’s gas station in Fort Valley was filled with Floridians. Among them was 20-year-old Angelina Stow and her mom, Vilisity. The pair – along with their dogs, Rogue and Charlie – were on a 460 mile journey from Clearwater to a hotel in Covington, Georgia.

They had tried to get rooms in places closer to Clearwater, but lodgings were already full with other evacuees.

“It’s scary,” said Angelina Stow. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re kind of blind right now.”

Many others were also headed to Georgia and beyond on Tuesday to escape Milton. Outside the Buc-ee’s, the northbound lanes were clogged with traffic. Vehicles drove far more steadily south, despite the number of line worker trucks headed the opposite direction toward Florida.

− Douglas Soule, USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida

Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando announce closures

Major tourist attractions including Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World announced closures ahead of Milton’s expected landfall along the west coast of Florida.

Walt Disney World said its theme parks and Disney Springs will be closed in phases beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom theme park will close at 1 p.m., and Magic Kingdom park, EPCOT and Disney Springs will close at 2 p.m.

“It is likely the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, October 10,” Walt Disney World said on its website. “We will consider opening Disney Springs on Thursday in the late afternoon, with limited offerings.”

Universal Orlando announced on Tuesday that it will close its resort at 2 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed through Thursday ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall. The closures will impact Universal’s water theme park Volcano Bay and its annual Halloween Horror Nights, both of which will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. The park’s hotels will remain operational.

Florida governor to residents under evacuation orders: ‘Get out now’

DeSantis on Tuesday told Florida residents under evacuation orders to evacuate to higher ground and away from the coast and flood-prone areas as Milton approaches the state.

“You should be executing your plan,” he said. “If you’re going to get out, get out now. You have time today – time will be running out very shortly if you wait any longer.”

DeSantis said the powerful hurricane is expected to rip across the Florida Peninsula as a hurricane and that those in mobile homes or other vulnerable structures should heed advisories and orders issued by their county governments, even if they are well inland from the coast.

In addition, DeSantis said there is “an unprecedented effort underway” to ensure the state is prepared for Milton’s wrath.

As authorities rush to pick up debris from Helene, trucks being escorted by Florida Highway Patrol cruisers are filling up gas stations for residents in need. Tens of thousands of linemen from as far as California are positioned to begin restoration as soon as the storm passes. And up to 8,000 Florida National Guard soldiers will be deployed to assist in the preparation and recovery effort.

“This is probably the largest national guard mobilization in advance of a storm in Florida history,” DeSantis said.

Tampa hospital puts up ‘AquaFence’ to hold back floodwaters

A crew of workers installed an “AquaFence” around the Tampa General Hospital to hold back surging flood waters expected from Milton, according to Amanda Bevis, a spokesperson for the healthcare institution.

The hospital has used the fence since 2019 to ensure hospital staff can keep treating patients during major storms.

Tampa General used it just two weeks ago to remain open through Hurricane Helene. Videos taken during the storm show the fence holding back a wall of water.

The fence can hold back up to 15 feet of storm surge and takes a crew of 60 workers to install over three days, said Bevis. Crews reinforced the barrier with resin anchors and concrete in 2023.

The Norwegian-designed flood barrier is just one of the hospital’s emergency stopgap measures. Tampa General also has a well, plus a 5,000 gallon supply of water and built its own 16,000 square-foot energy plant 33 feet above sea level in 2022, according to a hospital press release.