"Get out" before Milton impacts areas of Florida

AccuWeather

AccuWeather's Bill Wadell was joined live by Mayor Liz Albert in Sarasota, Florida, as she implored residents to evacuate ahead of the potential storm surge from Hurricane Milton.

Transcript

00:00Bill Waddell is live this morning.

00:02Bill, officials have been pleading with people near the water and on the Barry Islands to

00:07evacuate.

00:08And for someone like yourself, who is a seasoned storm reporter, you understand the dangers

00:15of storm surge better than anyone.

00:18Absolutely, Bernie Ariella.

00:20Storm surge is incredibly dangerous.

00:22We were staying on Siesta Key a few days ago, and with that AccuWeather meteorologist warning

00:27us 15 to 20 feet of storm surge possible in some of those barrier islands, just like

00:31everyone else.

00:32We have packed up, left, evacuated.

00:34We are now in Sarasota, and we are under cover of a building here because we've got lightning

00:39in the area.

00:40Very close lightning strikes this morning.

00:41That's another thing that folks are dealing with.

00:43We are here live this morning with Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert joining us.

00:47Thank you so much for taking the time.

00:48I know waking up this morning, a lot of people seeing the latest forecast updates.

00:53This is not a good situation.

00:54There's a potential of 15 to 20 feet of storm surge in the Sarasota area.

00:59What is your message to people, especially those who chose not to evacuate or they're

01:03trying to make that decision this morning?

01:05Well, obviously, what's going on now really isn't even the hurricane, but it's starting

01:11to look real.

01:12So my message, of course, is, you know, especially if you're on the barrier islands or in the

01:17vulnerable areas, please evacuate to a friend, a relative, or one of our many shelters that

01:25we have here in the city and the county.

01:29This is much more dangerous than we were anticipating, and you know, it was supposed to be a level

01:34three.

01:35Now it's a level four.

01:37So I think we really have to take it seriously.

01:40And I think most of the people in our area are taking it seriously.

01:44You know, I know the first responders are going to be out trying to help people.

01:47When conditions get bad, there's a certain point they cannot come out and help people.

01:51After the winds get to 40 miles per hour, they can't come out and help.

01:56So they can't rescue you if you've chosen to stay.

02:00So once the winds get to a sustained 40 miles per hour, so please, before it gets to that

02:07point, you know, get out and get somewhere where you can be safe.

02:12With that threat of dangerous storm surge, we know there's potentially going to be a

02:15lot of damage, even a lot of boats potentially being washed in.

02:19For people who choose not to evacuate, and they're going to be here after the storm,

02:23how dangerous is that going to be?

02:24Are you asking people if they stay here to shelter in place after the storm, to not be

02:28on the streets, to not go out and try and look at the storm surge or the damage?

02:32You know, absolutely, until the streets are safe to go out on.

02:37You know, if there's water in the streets, don't go into the water because you don't

02:44know what's in there.

02:45There could be live electrical wires and, you know, it's contaminated.

02:51So stay in place.

02:52If you haven't gotten out, just stay where you are until the conditions clear up.

02:59And I just want to ask you on a personal level, obviously, you're the mayor.

03:03People here in this community look to you for answers.

03:05You have lived in the Sarasota area for decades.

03:07This is home to you.

03:09This has got to be a tough storm on a personal level, just what's going through your mind

03:12knowing what Sarasota could look like in 24 hours from now?

03:17It really, it really is upsetting to me.

03:20I've lived in this area for 50 years and have never seen a direct hit from a hurricane.

03:27I think it's something like we haven't had one in a hundred years.

03:30So you know, it, it is worrisome.

03:35I know we'll come back from it better and stronger, but it's going to be a tough one

03:40to get through.

03:42Liz Alpert, Mayor of Sarasota, thank you so much for joining us.

03:44I know we're going to be in touch with updates.

03:47And Bernie and Ariella, again, that's the message.

03:49Again, if folks are watching this morning, or if you're the family or friends watching

03:54at home, you're nervous about your loved ones in the Sarasota area, or especially out on

03:58those barrier islands still, these are not the worst of the impacts.

04:01They haven't even arrived.

04:02If you are on a barrier island, the message is to please get out while you can, because

04:07this is a deadly storm surge threat.

04:09These issues are going to be essentially impossible during the worst of this hurricane.

04:13Bill, last question, you know, to take her aside from the professional and to look at

04:17the personal there, and that really just lets you know how worried folks are into the Sarasota

04:23area and really across the state of Florida.

04:25So Bill, reporting live for us in Sarasota, thank you for that important interview.

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