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Photos show Florida preparations and evacuations ahead of Hurricane Milton

Chris Williams runs through a rain storm as he packs his car to evacuate his apartment before Hurricane Milton’s arrival on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. 
Joe Raedle | Getty Images
  • Local authorities said Wednesday that Floridians only have a few hours left to evacuate the storm surge area as Hurricane Milton gets closer.
  • The storm is projected to make landfall on the western coast of the state.
  • Floridians still recovering from Hurricane Helene are now scrambling to prepare or escape the projected storm areas.
People visit the beach as storm clouds hang pass overhead before Hurricane Milton's arrival on October 08, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. 
Joe Raedle | Getty Images
People visit the beach as storm clouds hang pass overhead before Hurricane Milton's arrival on October 08, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. 

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Local authorities said Wednesday that Floridians only have a few hours left to evacuate the storm surge area as Milton, which is currently a Category 4 hurricane, is projected to make landfall on the western coast of the state late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Gas stations around the state have already run out of fuel as people attempt to either leave the state or have fuel on stock for at-home generators. Around 23% of the state's gas stations are currently without fuel, up from around 17% on Tuesday, according to data from GasBuddy.

Floridians are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which devastated the state in late September, and now are scrambling to prepare or escape the projected storm areas.

Hurricane Milton is expected to bring life-threatening storm surges, as well as isolated tornadoes and dangerous flooding. Rain has already hit the Tampa metropolitan area and winds are likely to increase Wednesday afternoon.

Tampa, Florida

Parts of the city are mostly empty as Hurricane Milton approaches on October 08, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. 
Spencer Platt | Getty Images
Parts of the city are mostly empty as Hurricane Milton approaches on October 08, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. 
A penguin is lured into a carrier to be relocated to higher ground at Florida Aquarium ahead of Hurricane Milton, in Tampa, Florida, U.S. October 8, 2024 in this screen grab from a video.
Florida Aquarium | TMX | Via Reuters
A penguin is lured into a carrier to be relocated to higher ground at Florida Aquarium ahead of Hurricane Milton, in Tampa, Florida, U.S. October 8, 2024 in this screen grab from a video.
People transit in a vehicle next to a barrier at Tampa General Hospital, as Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Tampa, Florida, U.S., October 9, 2024. 
Octavio Jones | Reuters
People transit in a vehicle next to a barrier at Tampa General Hospital, as Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Tampa, Florida, U.S., October 9, 2024. 
A gas station manager wraps a fuel pump with plastic after the gas station ran out of fuel, as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Tampa, Florida October 8, 2024. 
Ricardo Arduengo | Reuters
A gas station manager wraps a fuel pump with plastic after the gas station ran out of fuel, as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Tampa, Florida October 8, 2024. 
Tampa looks deserted as residents prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Milton on October 09, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.
Spencer Platt | Getty Images
Tampa looks deserted as residents prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Milton on October 09, 2024 in Tampa, Florida.

Orlando, Florida

Cars drive during heavy rainfall as Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Orlando, Florida, U.S., October 9, 2024. 
Jose Luis Gonzalez | Reuters
Cars drive during heavy rainfall as Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Orlando, Florida, U.S., October 9, 2024. 
People arrive at Walt Disney World as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Orlando, Florida, U.S., October 9, 2024. 
Jose Luis Gonzalez | Reuters
People arrive at Walt Disney World as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Orlando, Florida, U.S., October 9, 2024. 
Residents of the Apopka area fill bags to protect their homes from possible flooding before the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Orlando, Florida on October 9, 2024. 
Giorgio Viera | AFP | Getty Images
Residents of the Apopka area fill bags to protect their homes from possible flooding before the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Orlando, Florida on October 9, 2024. 
Screens showing canceled flights at Orlando International Airport, closed to commercial flights ahead of Hurricane Milton's arrival in Florida on October 9, 2024. 
Giorgio Viera | AFP | Getty Images
Screens showing canceled flights at Orlando International Airport, closed to commercial flights ahead of Hurricane Milton's arrival in Florida on October 9, 2024. 
Orlando International Airport, closed to commercial flights ahead of Hurricane Milton's arrival in Florida on October 9, 2024.
Giorgio Viera | AFP | Getty Images
Orlando International Airport, closed to commercial flights ahead of Hurricane Milton's arrival in Florida on October 9, 2024.

Anna Maria Island, Florida

Members of the Florida Army National Guard check for any remaining residents in nearly-deserted Bradenton Beach, where piles of debris from Hurricane Helene flooding still sits outside damaged homes ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, on Anna Maria Island, Fla.
Rebecca Blackwell | AP
Members of the Florida Army National Guard check for any remaining residents in nearly-deserted Bradenton Beach, where piles of debris from Hurricane Helene flooding still sits outside damaged homes ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, on Anna Maria Island, Fla.

The Villages, Florida

Duke Energy project manager Tiger Yates (at middle in bottom of photo) walks among the hundreds of lineman trucks staged at The Villages, Florida, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. 
Stephen M. Dowell | Orlando Sentinel | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
Duke Energy project manager Tiger Yates (at middle in bottom of photo) walks among the hundreds of lineman trucks staged at The Villages, Florida, on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. 

Oakland Park, Florida

Drivers are warned to keep away from a street in Oakland Park, Florida, amid the rain. South Florida is now bracing for winds and rain from Hurricane Milton. 
Joe Cavaretta | South Florida Sun Sentinel | Tribune News Service | Getty Images
Drivers are warned to keep away from a street in Oakland Park, Florida, amid the rain. South Florida is now bracing for winds and rain from Hurricane Milton. 

Lakeland, Florida

Members of the Polk County Sheriff's Office pray outside a shelter as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Lakeland, Florida, U.S., October 9, 2024. 
Jose Luis Gonzalez | Reuters
Members of the Polk County Sheriff's Office pray outside a shelter as Hurricane Milton approaches, in Lakeland, Florida, U.S., October 9, 2024. 

St. Petersburg, Florida

Sofia Andreeva boards up her home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S., October 8, 2024. 
Octavio Jones | Reuters
Sofia Andreeva boards up her home ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S., October 8, 2024. 

Fort Myers, Florida

A drone view shows storm clouds over the Caloosahatchee River as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. October 8, 2024. 
Ricardo Arduengo | Reuters
A drone view shows storm clouds over the Caloosahatchee River as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. October 8, 2024. 
A Lee County deputy sheriff checks a driver at the closed Fort Myers Beach bridge as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. October 9, 2024. 
Ricardo Arduengo | Reuters
A Lee County deputy sheriff checks a driver at the closed Fort Myers Beach bridge as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. October 9, 2024. 
Empty shelves are seen in the drinks aisle of a store as people prepare before Hurricane Milton's arrival on October 08, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. 
Joe Raedle | Getty Images
Empty shelves are seen in the drinks aisle of a store as people prepare before Hurricane Milton's arrival on October 08, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. 
Connor Ferran (L) and his neighbor Leroy Roker survey what is left after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off of Ferran's home before Hurricane Milton's arrival on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida.
Joe Raedle | Getty Images
Connor Ferran (L) and his neighbor Leroy Roker survey what is left after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off of Ferran's home before Hurricane Milton's arrival on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida.
A woman cries after seeing the damages caused by a passing tornado as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. October 9, 2024. 
Ricardo Arduengo | Reuters
A woman cries after seeing the damages caused by a passing tornado as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. October 9, 2024. 

Bradenton, Florida

People prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Milton in Brandenton, Florida on October 9, 2024.
Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo | AFP | Getty Images
People prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Milton in Brandenton, Florida on October 9, 2024.
People arrive to shelter at theBuffalo Creek Middle School ahead of Hurricane Milton expected landfall in Bradenton, Florida on October 9, 2024.
Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo | AFP | Getty Images
People arrive to shelter at theBuffalo Creek Middle School ahead of Hurricane Milton expected landfall in Bradenton, Florida on October 9, 2024.

Palmetto, Florida

Hundreds take shelter at Virgil Mills Elementary School ahead of Hurricane Milton, in Palmetto, Florida, United States on October 09, 2024.
Lokman Vural Elibol | Anadolu | Getty Images
Hundreds take shelter at Virgil Mills Elementary School ahead of Hurricane Milton, in Palmetto, Florida, United States on October 09, 2024.

New Port Richey, Florida

Members of Pasco County utilities set up in classrooms in a hurricane shelter at River Ridge Middle/High School in preparation for Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New Port Richey, Fla.
Mike Carlson | AP
Members of Pasco County utilities set up in classrooms in a hurricane shelter at River Ridge Middle/High School in preparation for Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New Port Richey, Fla.

CNBC's Danielle DeVries contributed to this report.

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