As Hurricane Milton continues its destructive path through Florida, a resident has taken extreme measures to protect his home, while officials have confirmed several fatalities. Pedro Casares from Orlando, Florida, decided to secure his entire house before the Category 5 storm hit, with winds reaching speeds of up to 100 mph.
Tragically, two people have died as a result of the hurricane, as confirmed by a St. Lucie Fire District official speaking to NBC. Additionally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged that the state has experienced 19 tornadoes linked to the storm.
Theme parks, including SeaWorld, Universal Orlando, and Walt Disney World, shut down operations on Wednesday and are expected to remain closed on Thursday as a precaution.
In the midst of this chaos, Pedro took the unusual step of fastening six large yellow straps from the roof of his one-story house to the ground. The image of his home quickly went viral after Spectrum Bay News 9 shared it on X (formerly Twitter). One commenter dubbed it “the most Florida thing ever,” while another humorously noted, “Everyone is laughing now, but this man will be a legend when all the other houses are floating down the road, and he’s sitting in his new living room swimming pool watching TV powered by a Starlink terminal.”
A third person praised Pedro’s ingenuity, remarking, “He’s thinking outside the box, need more folks like him.”
Meanwhile, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor urged residents to remain indoors as footage of the hurricane’s devastation spread online. During a press conference, she emphasized the importance of safety: “Please, please stay inside until we can get out there with our teams to assess the damage and make sure it’s safe for you to go back out into your community or to re-enter your neighborhood.”
She added, “One of the blessings for us is that we didn’t see that predicted storm surge, that saved a lot.”
The US National Hurricane Center also issued a reminder about the deceptive calm that can occur when the eye of a hurricane passes over: “People in the midst of a hurricane are often amazed at how the incredibly fierce winds and rain can suddenly stop and [how] the sky clears when the eye comes over them. Then, just as quickly, the winds and rain begin again, but this time from the opposite direction.”
As the storm continues, the financial impact is becoming evident. A Forbes report suggests that Disney may lose between $150 million and $200 million this fiscal quarter due to the closure of Walt Disney World, with tourists still stranded. The publication also notes that Goldman Sachs has forecast a 6% drop in tourism as a result of the severe weather.
Despite the dire situation, individuals like Pedro are coming up with creative survival strategies as Hurricane Milton rages on.