'Avoid spreading false information,' FEMA warns, says agency is 'prepared to respond'

Less than a month after Hurricane Helene carved a path of destruction in Florida, Hurricane Milton is barreling towards the state. The already powerful storm was gaining strength Tuesday and could double in size before slamming into west-central Florida late Wednesday.

"Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida," John Cangialosi, a specialist with the National Hurricane Center, warned in an update Tuesday. Damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall could extend well outside the forecast cone, he said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told Florida residents in the path of Milton that "time is running out" before landfall, likely as a Category 3 storm.

"There's no guarantee what the weather's going to be like starting Wednesday morning," DeSantis said at a briefing Tuesday. "You may have a window where it may be safe, but you may not. So, use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family."

Live updates:Hurricane Milton intensifies again, on cusp of a Category 5

What we know so far:When and where will Hurricane Milton make landfall?

FEMA 'prepared to respond'

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said in a news release Sunday the agency is "prepared to respond and stands ready to support the state with any request for resources."

"Hundreds of FEMA staff are on the ground in Florida supporting Helene recovery and coordinating with the state to prepare people for the next storm," the news release said.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell pushed back against former President Donald Trump’s claims about Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, saying she was disappointed in the misinformation he was spreading.

FEMA was forced to address misinformation on its webpage and social media platforms after Trump spread claims about hurricane relief efforts, including allegations that there are “no helicopters, no rescue” in North Carolina and that the federal government is only giving $750 to those who have lost their homes.

Harris slams Trump for being 'extraordinarily irresponsible'

Vice President Kamala Harris also disagreed with Trump's claims and said that FEMA has resources for those who "desperately need them now," adding the public is "entitled to these resources."

"There is a lot of mis- and disinformation being pushed out there by the former president about what is available, in particular, to the survivors of Helene," Harris said in Maryland before departing for New York Monday.

Harris, while speaking with reporters, also urged "folks in Florida, in the Tampa area" to "please listen to evacuation orders."

"Please listen to your local officials, because I know a lot of folks out there have survived these hurricanes before — this one is going to be very, very serious," Harris said. "And I urge you to please just grab whatever you need. Listen to the orders you’re getting from your local officials. They know what they’re telling you, and they know what Milton is about to be. So, please do that."

Milton preparation:Florida residents are filling sandbags as Milton nears. Here's how they work.

Preparing for the hurricane

FEMA has also urged the public, especially those in the path of the hurricane and in evacuation zones to avoid falling for or spreading misinformation, and are encouraging residents to refer to official resources for the most accurate information.

"During disasters, it’s critical to avoid spreading false information," FEMA said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

FEMA has outlined the following tips to keep in mind while preparing for the hurricane:

• Take forecast seriously and do not wait to prepare.
• Evacuate if you are in a county with an evacuation order in place. The Florida Division of Emergency Management is offering free evacuation shuttles to assist residents.
• Download the free FEMA app to receive real-time weather alerts and find local emergency shelters in your area.
• Stay informed by listening to local officials by monitoring local radio or television stations for updated emergency information.
• Keep informed on your neighbors, especially older adults or those who may need extra support and have a plan to remain in contact during and after the storm.
• Take care of your mental health. If you or someone you know needs help dealing with the stress and feelings of anxiety, call or text the toll-free, multilingual Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 for confidential counseling, referrals and other support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Keep gas tanks half-full: Florida residents and visitors are advised to keep their gas tanks at least half full to ensure they have enough full to evacuate without encountering long lines or gas shortages. Electric vehicle owners should maintain their battery between 50-80% capacity.

Hurricane names predetermined

All hurricanes and tropical storms in the Atlantic, including Milton, are named before the season begins from a list of names originated by the National Hurricane Centre and now maintained and updated through a strict procedure by the World Meteorological Organization, as per NHC.

The six lists "are used in rotation and re-cycled every six years," and are only amended if "a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name for a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity." In those cases, the offensive name is retired and replaced during an annual meeting of the WMO committee.

The storm names for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season include:

• Alberto
• Beryl
• Chris
• Debby
• Ernesto
• Francine
• Gordon
• Helene
• Isaac
• Joyce
• Kirk
• Leslie
• Milton
• Nadine
• Oscar
• Patty
• Rafael
• Sara
• Tony
• Valerie
• William

These names can be applied to hurricanes, tropical storms and other systems that originate in the Atlantic Ocean.

Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi, John Bacon, Trevor Hughes, Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.