Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. Hurricane Milton is fast

approaching the coast of West Central Florida with life-threatening storm surge

and damaging winds expected.

The National Hurricane Center says the storm is now a category 3, with maximum sustained winds

of 120 miles an hour.

This weakening was expected. President Biden addressed the nation

from the White House today about the storm.

Milton still carries incredible destructiveness, can wipe out communities, can cause loss of life. Storm surge is still expected to be

up to 13 feet, so I urge everyone in Hurricane Milton's path to listen to local

officials and follow all the safety instructions

they give. Heavy rains are already hitting some areas including Sarasota where

officials are ordering people to shelter in place saying that the roads aren't safe.

Landfall is expected to happen overnight.

Around 50 tornado warnings have already been issued.

FEMA has more than a thousand responders on the ground

supporting both Milton and previous disasters.

And there are also more than 1400 search and rescue personnel on the ground.

Meanwhile officials are warning people to make sure they're in a safe place, and

Piers Greg Allen has more.

Multiple tornadoes have already touched down throughout the state.

Hurricane Milton is expected to come ashore between Tampa Bay and Fort Myers,

bringing with it a potentially deadly 15-foot storm surge in some areas.

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