FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – On Tuesday, people evacuated their homes on the West Coast and traveled to South Florida.
There are available hotel rooms in Broward County, and gas stations along I-595 are operating smoothly.
Debbie Small, who evacuated from Sanibel Island, described the journey as “bumper to bumper traffic.”
As Hurricane Milton makes its way toward Florida’s West Coast, residents are heading to South Florida. Traffic cameras indicate ongoing gridlock at the toll plaza on I-75 just outside Naples as the time of this publishing.
Debbie and her husband, Dan Small, traveled through the area Monday afternoon. They left Sanibel around noon and arrived in Fort Lauderdale around 6 p.m., citing incredible traffic on Alligator Alley. The couple is staying in Fort Lauderdale Beach at least until Friday.
Fort Lauderdale officials report that hotels have vacancies. Mayor Dean Trantalis encouraged people to know that Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area would be a welcoming home for anyone in need of shelter.
“We encourage people to know that Fort Lauderdale, as well as the greater Fort Lauderdale area, is going to be a welcoming home to anybody that needs shelter and we continue to reach out to those that are in need.”
With evacuees heading east, the Florida Department of Transportation has configured the I-595 express lanes for eastbound traffic in anticipation of the hurricane. The express lanes will be closed to westbound traffic and will remain in the eastbound direction for the duration of the storm.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis noted that some gas stations on the West Coast may be running low on fuel due to heavy demand.
He acknowledged that lines at gas stations have been long and that some stations are running out of gas quicker than they normally would. However, gas stations off I-595 in Broward County appear to be operating normally and smoothly.
Trantalis encouraged residents not to overreact, urging them to ensure gas supplies remain available for those coming from the West Coast.
DeSantis also stated there is no fuel shortage, as fuel continues to arrive in Florida by port.
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