By The FirstResidents in Tampa, Florida have received a mandatory evacuation order as Hurricane Ian threatens to make landfall; Ian was upgraded from “Tropical Storm” to “Hurricane” on Monday morning.
From Fox News:
Hurricane status was declared at around 5:00 a.m. as the storm’s winds strengthened to 75 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Ian is expected to become a significant hurricane within the next 48 hours. A Hurricane Watch was issued for Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay.
Hillsborough County, which contains Tampa, ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents living in the city’s coastal area. It also announced a voluntary evacuation for most of the rest of the county.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been keeping Floridians updated on the hurricane’s latest movements: “Ian has strengthened into a hurricane and is expected to become a major hurricane as it moves through the Gulf. I encourage Floridians to ensure they are prepared and that their emergency supply kit is stocked with supplies. Follow @FLSERT for updates.”