Brits have revealed their fear as they watch Hurricane Milton bear down on Florida – while they’re trapped there.
Flights to the American state have been halted as the devastating weather system approaches, leaving tourists stranded as they wait for the wild weather to hit.
Florida is holding its breath as the Category-5 hurricane is set to sweep the Tampa region today – with 15-foot floods and 175 miles per hour winds laying waste to the city.
And, just two hours away, a group of nine holidaymakers are now preparing to wait out the tempest from a hotel in Orlando.
Racheal Harris, 36, has visited the American state six times before with her husband Jamie, 34, and was looking forward to sharing their favourite destination with their three-year-old son, Maximus.
But instead they are settling into the ground-floor room of their hotel as the wind begins to shake the palm trees outside.
‘It’s the calm before the storm,’ she told MailOnline. ‘We’re grounded. We were meant to fly home Thursday evening, but Orlando airport is now closed for two days.
Racheal Harris, 36, has visited the American state six times before with her husband Jamie, 34, and was looking forward to sharing their favourite destination with their three-year-old son, Maximus
The hotel has advised them to shut themselves in their room as the storm approaches and put a towel against the door incase water comes in – the couple are debating whether to put a mattress against the window, as they had heard it may help
The family, from Colchester, are among nine of their family and friends inside the hotel, after the family holiday was blown sideways by the extreme weather
The trio are settling into the ground floor room of their hotel as the wind begins to shake the palm trees outside. Pictured: The view from their window
Calm weather greets tourists strolling past the various shops at the Disney Springs entertainment complex as Hurricane Milton threatens Florida
The state is holding its breath as category-5 Hurricane Milton is set to devastate the Tampa region tomorrow with 15-foot floods and 175 miles per hour winds laying waste to the city
‘We’ve just gone out for our last meal. We’re not sure when we’re flying back yet – it could be Friday, it could be next week. We don’t know yet.
‘We’ve got a little one – he’s only three – so we’re obviously trying to keep him entertained.
‘We’ve been told to stay in our rooms because it’s going to hit tomorrow afternoon. All I can do is trust the hotel right now.’
The family, from Colchester, are a party of nine stuck inside the hotel, after the holiday was blown sideways by the extreme weather.
They were meant to be spending the day visiting the sloths and elephants at a local wildlife gardens, and Racheal had planned to do a spot of shopping the day after.
Instead, the hotel has advised them to shut themselves in their room as the storm approaches and put a towel against the door incase water comes in – the couple are debating whether to put a mattress against the window, as they had heard it may help.
But, depending on their stoicism, Racheal, an IT consultant, and Jamie, who runs estate agent firm Fearn Malone, say they are refusing to spiral as it would upset little Maximus.
She continued: ‘I can’t panic about it, because if I panic my son panics. It’s a British thing – we just go with the flow.
‘I just want to get my room moved from the ground floor. I think that’s the thing that’s playing on my mind at the moment.
‘Pray for Orlando’ reads on wood that was placed at a Home Depot before the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Orlando, Florida
A person walks in front of a restaurant surrounded by sand bags as the city prepares for Hurricane Milton in Bonita Beach, Florida
Vehicles fill the road as they drive to the East on I-75 from the West coast of Florida before the arrival of Hurricane Milton
Birdkeepers Austin Laroche and Madi Unwin move animals into a restroom at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford, Florida
A car sits half-buried in sand as Bradenton Beach, Florida, which was in the process of cleaning up after Hurricane Helene, as Hurricane Milton approaches
‘There’s not much I can do – you’ve just got to ride the storm, as ironic as that is!’
School districts have closed, businesses have shut and evacuation orders have seen residents fleeing the coast, as weather officials warn the tempest could be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record.
As Milton raged across Mexico it has already left a wave of devastation in its wake – flooding streets and downing trees and powerlines with strong winds.
It was recatagorised as a Category-5 storm overnight, with the potential of wind speeds up to a stunning 175mph.
In a devastating assessment, the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said that: ‘Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.’
The family had their stay at the hotel extended by Tui after their flight was cancelled, with Racheal lauding the company as ‘amazing’.
She added: ‘I think it’s just the unknown now. We don’t know what we don’t know.’
People board up windows as the old town of Ybor City in Tampa stands mostly empty as the state prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Milto
People prepare sandbags ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Orlando, Florida
A member of the Mexican army stands in floodwaters after Hurricane Milton brought heavy rain to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on its way to Florida, in Celestun, Mexico
Palm trees hitting by strong winds are seen caused by rains from Hurricane Milton in Puerto Progeso, Yucatan State, Mexico
A threatening sign warns looters on a garage door taped with plastic and sand bags in preparation for Hurricane Milton
Flights from London to Tampa scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday have been cancelled as airlines blamed ‘adverse weather conditions’, with planned journeys from Manchester and Edinburgh also having to be scrapped.
The American government’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has prepared 20million meals and 40million litres of water at the ready, as they prepare to deploy them after the hurricane hits.
Terrified locals continued to try and escape the threatened state after residents were told to ‘flee or die’ in a terrifying warning, with local officials scrambling to evacuate the population before the once-in-a-century tempest hits Tampa and St Petersburg tomorrow.
Drivers last night queued in standstill traffic as the state’s major highways were clogged with miles-long lines of cars trying to flee the line of danger. Traffic is jammed both north and southbound as locals seek shelter out-of-state and in Miami.
The window has also nearly closed for people to escape the region by plane as airports in Tampa, St Petersburg and Orlando have already started shutting down and grounding flights. Thousands of British tourists are now battling hurricane chaos as Milton threatens to devastate much of the gulf coast.
Residents who have accepted they won’t be able to flee and are hunkering down, after sprees of panic buying stripped store shelves of bottled water, toilet paper and other household necessities. Home owners are already on the guard against thieves – with one sign in New Port Richey, just north of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast, emblazoned with :’You loot, we shoot on sight’.
The Aquatics Division of the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department with about 20 volunteers and local community members served over 2,000 sandbags to over 200 Tampa residents ahead of Hurricane Milton
Contractors haul away debris left by Hurricane Helene along the roadside, as residents in New Port Richey prepare to evacuate ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, Florida
A contractor walks by debris left by Hurricane Helene along the roadside, as residents prepare to evacuate ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in New Port Richey, Florida
A closed business is seen after Hurricane Helene ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival in Treasure Island, Florida
Residents were seen at Costco in Orlando stocking up on bottled water, paper towels, toilet paper and other essentials ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival
Those who are still desperate to escape and follow evacuation orders said it may be too ‘dangerous’ to hit the roads because local gas stations have run out of fuel. However, Governor Ron DeSantis assured residents that there’s enough fuel for them to get away from the storm.
Milton was so strong on Monday night that experts called for it to be given unprecedented Category 6 status, however the hurricane was downgraded to a Category 4 early this morning. Forecasters warn Milton is ‘expected to grow in size’ and remain ‘an extremely dangerous hurricane’ when it makes landfall on Tuesday.
Florida is a popular destination for UK tourists, with over a million typically travelling there annual for attractions including Disney World.
Universal’s Orlando Resort has cancelled a number of events over the coming week – with Volcano Bay closed tomorrow and on Thursday, alongside the Halloween Horror Nights. Their hotels intend to remain fully operational. SeaWorld Orlando also said it would close on Wednesday and Thursday.
The theme parks join Orlando International Airport, which said it would cease operations Wednesday morning. The airport is the nation’s seventh busiest and Florida’s most trafficked.
Walt Disney World will close on Wednesday in phases starting from 1pm. The theme parks will remain closed until Thursday, when there will be the potential of some reopening in the afternoon.
The Orlando area is the most visited destination in the United States due to Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and other theme parks, attracting 74 million tourists last year alone.
October is also among the busier times for theme parks because of Halloween-related celebrations, which have become major money generators over the past couple decades. Universal Orlando hosts ‘Halloween Horror Nights,’ with ghoulish haunted houses based on slasher films and other pop culture horror, and Disney has its tamer ‘Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.’
Clara Chapman, a longtime resident, prepares to evacuate from her home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in New Port Richey, Florida
Michael Mims boards up his home in advance of Hurricane Milton in Fort Myers, Florida
Sandra White prepares to evacuate from her home with her partner Scott Pepperman, and their dog Buoy ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in New Port Richey, Florida
A sign on a home lists hurricane names as they board up windows in preparation for Hurricane Milton
Scott Pepperman (L), and his son Cobi move a trailer while preparing to evacuate from their home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in New Port Richey, Florida
Cobi Pepperman helps his father load belongings in a U-Haul truck while preparing to evacuate from their home ahead of Hurricane Milton in New Port Richey, Florida
While Disney rarely shuts its doors – save for dangerous hurricanes in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Sept. 11 attacks – its hotels are often havens for coastal residents fleeing impending storms. A check of Disney World’s online reservation system on Tuesday morning showed no vacancies.
Those lucky enough to get a hotel reservation have gotten unexpected treats during past storms. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, guests at a hotel on Disney property found themselves stranded with actress Kristen Bell, who voiced the role of Anna in the beloved Disney film, ‘Frozen.’ While in Orlando, the actress found time to sing songs for evacuees at a nearby hurricane shelter.
Once a hurricane passes, the theme parks try to return operations to normal as quickly as possible. After Hurricane Charley charted a devastating path through Orlando in 2004, Disney World had utility vehicles picking up downed tree limbs and clearing roads on its property within an hour in the pitch-dark night.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has urged Brits to flee, as they say they are monitoring the weather system. An spokesperson said: ‘We are closely monitoring the development of Hurricane Milton towards the United States. We urge all British nationals in Florida or travelling to the region to follow travel advice and guidance from local authorities.’
British tourists have been warned to stay at home by furious Florida residents as the hurricane approaches – with desperate locals branding travelers ‘selfish’ amid ‘flee or die’ warnings that have forced them to evacuate their homes.
One couple from Essex, who say they ‘love anything Disney and Universal’, said that they were going to brave the ‘worrying’ flight from Heathrow during a hurricane. They added that they had ‘taken all cautions that needed to be taken’.
But Floridians reacted in fury towards Dan and Terry, who said they would be vlogging their 16-day adventure.
Caley Kennedy, said: ‘I would not recommend coming right now. We’ve got our own people to worry about.’
One couple from Essex, who say they ‘love anything Disney and Universal’, said that they were going to brave the ‘worrying’ flight from Heathrow during a hurricane. They added that they had ‘taken all cautions that needed to be taken’
But Floridians reacted in fury towards Dan and Terry, who said they would be vlogging their 16-day adventure
In groups for fans of Disney’s Florida resort, Brits were advised on how to prep for a hurricane while others spoke of their horror as they struggled to get home
People evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected mid-week landfall in Sanford, Florida
Another, Erin Dowding, replied in capitals – saying: ‘DO NOT COME.’
She continued: Why would you come into a devastating hurricane that is going to do so much damage in our state and expect us to shelter tourists and then accommodate them after.
‘Just wait a week and see if it’s ok to come. Selfish.’
And a third, Amy Michelle, said: ‘Are people really that dumb? Flying into a hurricane? Stay at home! At least until the weekend when everything passes.’
Dan and Terry – who are parents to six cats – later posted a photo from the plane, with the caption ‘We’re off’. They have since landed – telling their fans ‘We’re Home’.
In groups for fans of Disney’s Florida resort, Brits were advised on how to prep for a hurricane while others spoke of their horror as they struggled to get home.
