These Florida Cities Are Bracing for Hurricane Milton as Helene Cleanup Continues
https://climatecrisis247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/76969-150x150.jpgHurricane Helene made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on September 26, 2024, traveling 600 miles inland up to Tennessee to become one of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history. While many of the hardest-hit towns are just starting their cleanup efforts, Hurricane Milton is rapidly gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Hurricane Milton is the 13th named storm in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. The Category 3 storm is forecast to make landfall on Wednesday, October 9 and deliver gusts of wind up to 90 miles per hour while on land. While Helene landed in the Panhandle and traveled north, Milton is projected to make landfall near Tampa and travel eastward across the state. There are currently 35 counties in Florida under some kind of hurricane watch, flood warning, or storm surge warning, representing 54.4% of the state population. While Milton will cover a fraction of the ground Helene did, the storm is forecast to affect many still dealing with cleanup in the aftermath of Helene.
To determine the major cities bracing for Hurricane Milton, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on advisory forecast tracks from the National Hurricane Center of the NOAA. Cities, towns, and Census-designated places overlapping with Milton’s path as of October 7, 2024 were ranked based on total population. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau and is for 2022.
25. Kissimmee, FL
- Total population: 78,478
- Total housing units: 29,496
- Climate division: South Central Florida
24. The Villages, FL
- Total population: 79,108
- Total housing units: 54,376
- Climate division: North Central Florida
23. Largo, FL
- Total population: 82,541
- Total housing units: 46,408
- Climate division: South Central Florida
22. Pine Hills, FL
- Total population: 83,221
- Total housing units: 24,466
- Climate division: North Central Florida
21. Melbourne, FL
- Total population: 84,982
- Total housing units: 40,311
- Climate division: South Central Florida
20. Fort Myers, FL
- Total population: 88,699
- Total housing units: 45,607
- Climate division: Florida Everglades
19. Town 'n' Country, FL
- Total population: 89,456
- Total housing units: 36,027
- Climate division: South Central Florida
18. Palm Coast, FL
- Total population: 91,082
- Total housing units: 40,591
- Climate division: North Florida
17. Alafaya, FL
- Total population: 91,531
- Total housing units: 33,539
- Climate division: North Central Florida
16. Deltona, FL
- Total population: 94,373
- Total housing units: 34,374
- Climate division: North Central Florida
15. Riverview, FL
- Total population: 102,467
- Total housing units: 38,532
- Climate division: South Central Florida
14. Lakeland, FL
- Total population: 114,404
- Total housing units: 52,137
- Climate division: South Central Florida
13. Brandon, FL
- Total population: 114,923
- Total housing units: 48,043
- Climate division: South Central Florida
12. Spring Hill, FL
- Total population: 116,882
- Total housing units: 48,193
- Climate division: North Central Florida
11. Clearwater, FL
- Total population: 116,984
- Total housing units: 60,600
- Climate division: South Central Florida
10. West Palm Beach, FL
- Total population: 117,588
- Total housing units: 59,239
- Climate division: Florida Lower East Coast
9. Palm Bay, FL
- Total population: 121,513
- Total housing units: 47,568
- Climate division: South Central Florida
8. Lehigh Acres, FL
- Total population: 124,440
- Total housing units: 40,197
- Climate division: Florida Everglades
7. Gainesville, FL
- Total population: 142,414
- Total housing units: 63,929
- Climate division: North Florida
6. Cape Coral, FL
- Total population: 198,912
- Total housing units: 93,318
- Climate division: Florida Everglades
5. Port St. Lucie, FL
- Total population: 210,520
- Total housing units: 82,293
- Climate division: South Central Florida
4. St. Petersburg, FL
- Total population: 259,343
- Total housing units: 139,752
- Climate division: South Central Florida
3. Orlando, FL
- Total population: 307,738
- Total housing units: 144,377
- Climate division: North Central Florida
2. Tampa, FL
- Total population: 388,768
- Total housing units: 172,995
- Climate division: South Central Florida
1. Jacksonville, FL
- Total population: 950,203
- Total housing units: 414,089
- Climate division: North Florida
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