The push to evacuate comes as the last death toll from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida Sept. 26, was reported at more than 230.

Florida Lt. Gov Jeanette Nunez (R) on what Florida residents need to know ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall and says residents deciding whether or not to evacuate should leave now.

Hurricane Milton dropped to a Category 4 early Wednesday as it churns toward Florida's west coast. The National Hurricane Center had predicted it would likely weaken, but remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday.

Hurricane Milton churned Wednesday toward a potentially catastrophic collision along the west coast of Florida, where some residents insisted they would stay after millions were ordered to evacuate and officials warned that stragglers would face grim odds of surviving.

Hurricane Milton is due to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor had a stark warning for those who may choose not to evacuate.

Millions of people in Florida are being told to flee and seek shelter due to the approaching hurricane Milton, forecasted to be one of the most dangerous cyclones in the history of the US state. Tourists who arrived before the warnings are now being confronted with epic traffic jams,

The National Hurricane Center says tropical storm-force winds from Hurricane Milton are just off the western coast of Florida. Officials in a Tampa Bay-area county said Wednesday that that they're