Melissa Rutter and her partner, Daniel King, are currently enjoying a vacation in Orlando, Florida, but their trip has taken a tense turn with Hurricane Milton looming. Hailing from Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, the couple admitted they are feeling “quite nervous” as the powerful category five storm approaches.
With millions of Floridians evacuating, Milton is anticipated to make landfall near Tampa, bringing with it terrifying sustained winds of up to 165 mph. President Joe Biden has emphasized the gravity of the situation, declaring that the decision to evacuate is one of “life and death.”
“We’re at the Hilton Hotel, and the forecasts suggest we’re right in the path of the hurricane,” Rutter shared in a recent interview with BBC Hereford and Worcester. Gazing out from her hotel room, she described the scene as “eerily calm,” with clear blue skies and no wind. “We went shopping yesterday and stocked up on water and food, as we’ve been warned we might lose power and water. I can definitely feel the anxiety kicking in.”
The hotel’s management has informed guests that staff presence would be limited as a safety measure, and advised them to move all balcony furniture indoors in preparation for the storm.
King reflected on the local community’s preparedness, stating, “People have been very proactive.” However, he acknowledged that many are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which struck just two weeks ago and resulted in over 200 fatalities. “I’ve been to Florida multiple times and experienced various hurricanes, but this is the first time I’ve seen the locals genuinely worried,” he added.
Although they have a car, Rutter and King found it impractical to evacuate, as the roads are exceedingly congested with others trying to flee. Rutter also noted that they were originally scheduled to fly home on Wednesday afternoon, but their flight was canceled. “We’ve managed to secure a flight for Friday evening, but with the hurricane’s potential impact on the area and the airport, that could also be in jeopardy,” she explained.
