*Editors Note: This story has been updated from its initial version published on October 6. Meetings Today is following this developing story closely. Check this page frequently for updates.
At least 16 people have been reported dead and more than 2.2 million Florida residents are without power after Hurricane Milton ripped through Florida's west coast on Wednesday. According to the National Hurricane Center, the historic storm reached a maximum wind speed of 180 mph, making it the fifth-most intense hurricane in the Atlantic ever recorded and the strongest hurricane seen so far globally in 2024.
Hurricane Milton also brought record amounts of rainfall and flooding to many parts of the Tampa Bay area, with many calling it a "1-in-1,000-year rain event." St. Petersburg reportedly got 18 inches of rain in just the 24 hours Milton made landfall. The hurricane also a deadly tornado outbreak during its landfall, with 100 tornado warnings being issued and many of them being spotted across Florida. Reports say much of the death toll and destruction in the state is due to these twisters.
October 6
Hurricane Milton Eyes Florida’s Gulf Coast
Hurricane Milton grew rapidly into a Category 5 hurricane on Monday as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico, with the storm expected to weaken to a Category 3 before it hits Florida’s west coast Wednesday. These are areas that were already hit with the massively destructive Hurricane Helene just over a week ago, with Florida officials now calling for another evacuation of the areas in Milton’s path.
The Tampa Bay area is expected to experience the worst of Hurricane Milton’s force, with projected wind speeds of up to 175 mph, storm surges as high as eight to 12 feet above ground level and rain totals of around five to 10 inches across the Florida Peninsula.
Officials say that the debris left by Hurricane Helene could also increase the damage done by Hurricane Milton, with piles of wood, steel and other materials becoming dangerous projectiles in the high winds and potentially blocking the paths of emergency crews in the area.
Over 50 counties in Florida are now under state of emergency orders, with multiple Florida officials urging residents to evacuate. "Please, if you're in the Tampa Bay area, you need to evacuate," said Kevin Guthrie, executive director of Florida Emergency Management. "Drowning deaths due to storm surge are 100% preventable if you leave." All evacuation orders are listed on Florida's Division of Emergency Management website.
Hurricane Milton grew rapidly from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane, making it the fastest-growing hurricane in the Atlantic in years. Hurricane Milton has undergone “extreme rapid intensification” over the past day or so, making it the latest in a trend of rapidly intensifying storms fueled by climate change.
What Meeting and Event Planners Need to Know
Hurricane Milton could not have come at a worse time for the MICE industry, with the storm set to hit Florida’s west coast during one of the biggest industry events of the year, IMEX America. Several airports in Florida will halt operations, with the Tampa International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport all suspending operations on Tuesday, with the Orlando International Airport closing Wednesday morning.
As of October 7, 2024, no major Tampa hotels have announced closures or reported major damage. But if Tampa fairs as bad as Asheville did during Hurricane Helene, many Tampa hotels and meeting facilities could temporarily close to both brace for the storm and repair storm damage.
Much like prior to Hurricane Helene making landfall in Florida, Rosen Hotels & Resorts is once again offering Florida Resident Distress Rates, providing evacuees with safe and affordable places to stay during the storm. Rosen Hotels & Resorts is pet-friendly with room rates as low as $69 per night. More information can be found on Rosen Hotels’ website.
Like with Hurricane Helene, planners who have events scheduled in areas that are set to be impacted by Hurricane Milton should review the force majeure clauses in their contracts and contact the providers of their event cancellation insurance to explore options.
Hurricane Relief Resources
American Red Cross: Hurricane Relief Donations & Ways to Help
