Fil-Ams on path of Hurricane Milton urged to prepare, heed warnings

Jay McCoy puts up plywood in preparation for Hurricane Milton on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New Port Richey, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

WASHINGTON – Filipino communities along the path of Hurricane Milton have been advised to prepare and heed the warnings of local officials as the Category 4 storm barrels towards the Gulf Coast.

“Please stay informed by monitoring updates from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),” the Philippine Embassy said in an advisory. “The safety of Filipino nationals is the Embassy’s priority.”

The embassy said it is “actively monitoring the situation” and coordinating with the Philippine honorary consulate in Florida and the Filipino communities in these areas.

The first alerts notifying residents of Pinellas, Manatee, Pasco, Charlotte, Citrus and Hillsborough counties in Florida of a hurricane warning and storm surge warning went out via email, text message and phone call beginning at about 5:10 p.m. EDT, according to messages received by The Associated Press.

The hurricane warning said the impacts of Milton could be “devastating to catastrophic.”

The alerts warned that sturdy buildings could suffer complete roof and wall failures, and that damage could make some areas “uninhabitable for weeks or months.”

Contractors with the City of New Port Richey help clean debris left by Hurricane Helene in preparation for Hurricane Milton on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New Port Richey, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

In St. Petersburg, officials warned residents still cleaning up after Helene’s storm surge that flooding could be twice as great during Milton.

“Our community now faces an ever more daunting challenge,” said Mayor Ken Welch. “This is a powerful storm. More powerful than Helene with more potential storm surge.”

If the city takes a direct hit, the rebuilding of electric and water services could take a long time, he said.

The storm lends more urgency to the cleanup from Hurricane Helene, which swamped the same stretch of coastline less than two weeks ago.

Those who need the Philippine Embassy’s assistance may call (202) 368-2767 or (202) 769-8049.