Mon Oct 07 16:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Southwest Florida Braces for Hurricane Milton
**ENGLEWOOD, FL – October 6, 2024** – As Hurricane Milton churns in the Gulf of Mexico, residents of Southwest Florida are preparing for a potentially major hurricane impact. The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for the region on Sunday evening, anticipating dangerous and damaging winds.
The storm, which began as Tropical Storm Milton, is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida sometime Tuesday, potentially intensifying into a major hurricane before reaching the shore.
Local residents are taking precautions, with many seen boarding up windows, filling sandbags, and stocking up on fuel. Gas stations in the region experienced a surge in demand on Sunday, with some running out of fuel by the afternoon.
Charlotte County has been providing free sand to residents at various locations, with families flocking to sand stations to secure their homes and property. Public Works crews are also actively clearing storm drains to prevent flooding.
“Milton may be a historic, once-in-a-lifetime storm for Floridians,” said Jon Porter, AccuWeather chief meteorologist. “Milton has the potential to become one of Florida’s most damaging and costly hurricanes.”
The National Hurricane Center continues to track the storm and will provide updates on its projected path and intensity.
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