These stubborn Floridians are refusing to evacuate from Hurricane Milton, despite warnings that ‘you will die’
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — These are the hard-headed Floridians who have ignored repeated, dire warnings to get the hell ouဣt of dodge.
“I guess I’m going down with tꩲhe ship if I have to,” said 60-year-old Marc Tucker, whom The Post found driving around his neighborhood in a bright yellow, 40-inch lifted Jeep Wrangler with a waterproofed interior.
“I live about four blocks from the water. All my neighbors have gone. I’m the only one left on my block. Everyone left but me. They all want me to call them to let them know I’m safe.”
Tucker said he’s not leaving, despite Tampa Mayor Jane Castor telling residents in mandatory evacuation zones that “If you choose to stay … you are going to die.”
Tucker appears to be the only one left on his seaside block in St. Petersburg, which sits on a peninsula separating Tampa Bay from the Gulf of Mexico and has been largely evacuated as the Category 4 storm’s 12-foot surge could strike by midnight.
“I have a fear of leaving and coming back to a mess or not being able to get back to my house at all,” he said.
Tucker, however, is confident the storm will land further south of the Tampa Bay area, a possibility that would lessen Milton’s potentially disastrous impacts. If it doesn’t, he thinks he’s prepared anyway.
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“I’ve got rechargeable batteries charged up for flashlights, I’ve got a generator for food, I’ve got two vehicles full of gas, I’ve got 25 gallons of gas in jugs,” he said.
Other than a handful of holdouts, the streets of St. Petersburg and Tampa were all but empty by Wednesday morning — with some 6.🐭5 million Floridians evacuating inland to avoid t💟he worst of Milton.
Though a car can be seen hereജ and the♐re darting about the neighborhoods, most of the activity is from police patrolling the streets and broadcasting a recorded message demanding residents make their final preparations and get out of town.
Another holdout ignoring evacuation orders is 74-year-old George Beaty, who plans to shelter with his wife in their longtime Gulfport home at the end of the peninsu♔la.
“Hopefully my house don’t blow away,” Beaty said. “This one’s supposed to hit hard. I’m not one to scare but I’m a little scared.”
“My wife is worried the house is going to blow away. Every five minutes she all yak, yak, yak, ‘Move those flower pots, get the bird feeder down.'”
Asidꦆe from tidying the porch ahead of the tempest, Beaty and hi🌺s wife have stocked up on supplies that they hope will see them through.
“We’ve filled the tub full of water, got all the batteries charged, put sandbags around, and cooked up a lot of food because if🔯 the power goes off it will spoil.”
Remnants from sandbagging is scattered about the city alongside remaining debris from Hurricane Helene, which blew through Florida just two weeks ago. One boarded up home was spray-painted with the message “Go away Milton.”
A Gulfport Police officer said they hoped everyone had evacuated — but they’d find out soon who hadn’t.
“If not, we’ll find them in the morning.”
