Tampa Mayor Jane Castor addressing reporters in Tampa on Oct. 7, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)
With Hurricane Milton expected to expand in size while it approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said Tuesday that the “incredible” amount of traffic leaving the Tampa Bay area shows that Hurricane Helene was a true “wake-up call” for the entire region.
“People understood the force of the water and they heeded the warnings,” she told reporters during a press briefing.
Preparations to protect life and property and for long-duration power outages, “should be complete by tonight,” the National Hurricane Center reported earlier in the day.
Castor took an opportunity to discuss what she said were unfounded rumors being floated as the storm made its way closer to the Sunshine State on Tuesday.
“There are rumors that we don’t have enough resources,” she said. “That could not be further from the truth. The federal government, the state government, the county, the city, private entities are working hand in hand to get that debris out of the way and secondly to make sure that everyone is safe as we endure whatever Milton brings our way.”
She knocked down suggestions that Tampa residents would lose access to water and electricity ahead of Milton’s arrival sometime late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.
“We are not proactively shutting off water anywhere,” she declared. “TECO … is not shutting off electricity, either,” Castor said. “There is the possibility that the storm surge or the wind will knock down trees, powerlines, everything else that will affect different services, but we will be sure to keep you informed in a timely manner.”
She added: “I hate to break it to you, but a lot of what you see on social media is NOT factual. Stick with the facts.”
A huge concern in cities in Pinellas and Hillsborough County affected by the storm surge from Helene two weeks ago is the large amount of debris that remains on sidewalks and yards. With crews continuing to work on the problem, Castor was confident there might be as little as 20% remaining that the city can’t get to until Milton arrives.