Absolute terror reigns in Florida, as authorities have issued a chilling warning to residents who have not yet evacuated areas threatened by the deadly Hurricane Milton: write your name in permanent marker on your arm so your body can be identified if found.

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In a press conference, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody warned that anyone choosing to stay in areas under evacuation orders will be putting their life at extreme risk. “You might need to write your name in permanent marker on your arm so they know who you are when they find you later,” Moody said.

Watch live the path of Hurricane Milton

This warning comes as Florida is still reeling from the destruction caused by Hurricane Helen just two weeks ago, which left dozens dead. The Attorney General noted that even now, bodies are still being found along the coast from those who did not survive the catastrophic storm surge.

Bradenton, Florida Mayor Gene Brown is urging residents to take shelter hours before Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall, as the city lies directly in the projected path of the cyclone.

Senator Rick Scott echoed the urgency during the press conference, emphasizing, “None of us here can save your life if you choose to stay in danger.”

Sheriff Bill Prummell of Charlotte County also reinforced the warning, stressing that residents must understand the seriousness of the situation and evacuate dangerous areas immediately, or their chances of survival will be slim.

The situation in Florida is becoming increasingly concerning, with authorities on high alert, trying to convince as many residents as possible to leave before it’s too late.

The National Hurricane Center’s forecast map predicts water levels could rise up to 4.5 meters.

Slight weakening

Hurricane Milton weakened slightly on Wednesday morning as it moved over the Gulf of Mexico, now carrying winds of 249 kilometers per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Milton is expected to bring a destructive storm surge to Florida's west coast. @StephanieAbrams uses our FloodFX simulation technology to show you what that could look like ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rg996zNHy2

— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) October 8, 2024

This measurement puts it just 3.2 kilometers per hour below the threshold for a Category 5 storm. Milton is expected to continue losing strength, though slightly, in the coming hours but will remain a massive hurricane when it hits Florida overnight.

NBC’s graphic forecasts water levels to rise as much as 4.5 meters in the Tampa area, which is expected to be hit hardest by Milton.

Milton remains a catastrophic hurricane. It is expected to reach the Gulf Coast of Florida late tonight as a dangerous major hurricane,” stated an update from the U.S. Hurricane Center at noon (Greek time).

Hundreds of thousands are evacuating the state of Florida (with 5.9 million cars), which is bracing for an unprecedentedly severe storm—the worst in the last 100 years. Authorities anticipate that when it reaches its peak, winds will range between 280 and possibly up to 350 kilometers per hour, with water levels exceeding 3 meters in height.