In an exclusive interview, local eyewitnesses recounted their harrowing experiences as Hurricane Milton bore down on the Matlacha coast. One resident described the alarming scene he witnessed through his dashcam: “The wind and rain were relentless. I watched debris flying across the roads while trees were bent nearly to the ground.”

Nearby fishing boats rocked dangerously in the choppy waters, and the streets, usually bustling with activity, stood eerily empty as residents rushed to obey urgent evacuation orders. “You could feel the storm’s intensity,” another observer noted, “and with the heavy rain pouring down, many of us felt it was time to get out.”

This storm arrives just weeks after Hurricane Helene, leaving the community in a fragile state as it braces for what could be yet another devastating event. Concerns about Hurricane Milton, dubbed the “storm of the century,” are escalating, with reports suggesting it could double in size before making landfall in Florida, threatening to unleash even more chaos.

As local residents prepare for the impending storm, they reflect on the unpredictability of the weather, hoping for safety amidst the escalating turmoil.