As Hurricane Milton barrels toward the Florida coastline, prompting a Category 5 cyclone warning, many Florida residents have sought refuge from the impending dangers by traveling to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina. Reports from CBS17 highlight the urgent exodus, with Kevin Falanga, a passenger who previously endured Hurricane Helene's wrath, stating, "This is a big one, it had me nervous." Falanga decided to avoid the impending threat this time, admitting, "I rode that one out, but I learned my lesson."
Flights packed with concerned evacuees have been landing at RDU, which has seen a sharp increase in arrivals from hurricane-affected zones. According to a WRAL report, Joe Damocko, after visiting Disney with his family, returned to face the stark reality of the hurricane's threat. He recounted, "Thank God we came back when we did, because this storm is going to be a monster." With predictions of potential landfall as soon as tomorrow into Thursday and up to 15 inches of rain at stake, the gravity of the situation could scarcely be escaped.
Meanwhile, some airlines have begun to cancel flights to and from Florida, underscoring the severe nature of Hurricane Milton. Travel advisories have been issued and Tampa International Airport as the Orlando International Airport prepares to shut down with reopening times contingent upon the aftermath of the storm. One passenger returning to Fort Lauderdale, David Wilkins, expressed his concerns during an interview with ABC11. "It's a little bit nerve-wracking," he admitted, voicing hope for the storm's swift passage and the safety of those in its path.
In anticipation of Hurricane Milton's destructive capabilities, notably a 10-15 foot storm surge forecasted by the National Weather Service, many like Falanga have chosen not to take risks this time around. Out of anxiety to escape the threat to his gutted waterfront property, Falanga describes the previous encroachment of Hurricane Helene with a stark simplicity: "The water just rose so quick when high tide came in," he said on CBS17. "Just coming through the windows, coming through the door."
