SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Hurricane Milton, a category 4 storm, is weakening slightly but remains a ferocious system that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on the Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida areas.
KELOLAND News caught up with two former South Dakotans who now call that area home, but with storm surges expected to be 10-15 feet high and winds well over 100 mph, they’re hoping they’ll have a home to return to.
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The biggest concerns for Floridians this time around are the towering storm surges and debris from Hurricane Helene’s devastation 12 days ago.
Former KELOLAND News anchorman Steve Hemmingsen, who lives in Englewood, has been tracking Hurricane Milton for a few days now. Despite all the warnings, Hemmingsen says he’s staying put.
“A friend of mine and I thought about evacuating, but I’ve been in one of those before on the interstate and decided I’d rather be in a cement block house than in my little car out on the interstate in a traffic jam,’ said Hemmingsen.