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September 27, 2022

Hundreds of Thousands Ordered to Evacuate Florida's Gulf Coast as Hurricane Ian Approaches
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Ian is expected to strengthen into a powerful Category 4 hurricane
capable of catastrophic damage as it heads toward the Florida Keys. The
latest forecast models show Ian tracking toward Florida's west coast or
northwestern panhandle, with a possible direct hit on Tampa Bay - a
densely populated, low-lying region that's highly vulnerable to storm
surge. On Tuesday, officials in Hillsborough County, which covers
portions of Tampa, ordered a mandatory evacuation of 300,000 people.
County Administrator Bonnie Wise said people should seek shelter with
friends or family well away from Florida's Gulf Coast.

Bonnie Wise: "We did not make this decision easily, but the storm poses
a serious threat, and we must do everything we can to protect our
residents. And I can't stress this enough: Evacuation shelters are a
last resort. They are not comfortable places. They could be crowded, and
they could be noisy, and you could be in a shelter for days."



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