Hurricane Milton is headed for the west coast of Florida, and right now, it’s not clear where it will hit ― but several evacuations in Southwest Florida have already been announced.
The city of Marco Island has issued a voluntary evacuation notice in advance of Hurricane Milton, the first in Collier County.
“Due to the rapid intensification and heavy rainfall and flooding expected with Hurricane Milton, the City of Marco Island is issuing a Voluntary Evacuation for residents of Marco Island and Goodland,” the announcement read, citing concern about the anticipated rainfall, high tides and storm surge resulting in a serious flood risk.
All of Marco Island and Goodland are in Zone A for Collier County flood zones, meaning they are prone to storm surge and flooding. The city did not rule out the potential for a mandatory evacuation of all of Zone A.
The city urged residents in low-lying areas to prepare their homes and move to higher ground by Tuesday afternoon, despite the fact that Collier County has not yet announced shelter openings.