AccuWeather's Bill Wadell was joined live by Mayor Liz Albert in Sarasota, Florida, as she implored residents to evacuate ahead of the potential storm surge from Hurricane Milton.
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00:00Bill Waddell is live this morning.
00:02Bill, officials have been pleading with people near the water and on the Barry Islands to
00:07evacuate.
00:08And for someone like yourself, who is a seasoned storm reporter, you understand the dangers
00:15of storm surge better than anyone.
00:18Absolutely, Bernie Ariella.
00:20Storm surge is incredibly dangerous.
00:22We were staying on Siesta Key a few days ago, and with that AccuWeather meteorologist warning
00:27us 15 to 20 feet of storm surge possible in some of those barrier islands, just like
00:31everyone else.
00:32We have packed up, left, evacuated.
00:34We are now in Sarasota, and we are under cover of a building here because we've got lightning
00:39in the area.
00:40Very close lightning strikes this morning.
00:41That's another thing that folks are dealing with.
00:43We are here live this morning with Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert joining us.
00:47Thank you so much for taking the time.
00:48I know waking up this morning, a lot of people seeing the latest forecast updates.
00:53This is not a good situation.
00:54There's a potential of 15 to 20 feet of storm surge in the Sarasota area.
00:59What is your message to people, especially those who chose not to evacuate or they're
01:03trying to make that decision this morning?
01:05Well, obviously, what's going on now really isn't even the hurricane, but it's starting
01:11to look real.
01:12So my message, of course, is, you know, especially if you're on the barrier islands or in the
01:17vulnerable areas, please evacuate to a friend, a relative, or one of our many shelters that
01:25we have here in the city and the county.
01:29This is much more dangerous than we were anticipating, and you know, it was supposed to be a level
01:34three.
01:35Now it's a level four.
01:37So I think we really have to take it seriously.
01:40And I think most of the people in our area are taking it seriously.
01:44You know, I know the first responders are going to be out trying to help people.
01:47When conditions get bad, there's a certain point they cannot come out and help people.
01:51After the winds get to 40 miles per hour, they can't come out and help.
01:56So they can't rescue you if you've chosen to stay.
02:00So once the winds get to a sustained 40 miles per hour, so please, before it gets to that
02:07point, you know, get out and get somewhere where you can be safe.
02:12With that threat of dangerous storm surge, we know there's potentially going to be a
02:15lot of damage, even a lot of boats potentially being washed in.
02:19For people who choose not to evacuate, and they're going to be here after the storm,
02:23how dangerous is that going to be?
02:24Are you asking people if they stay here to shelter in place after the storm, to not be
02:28on the streets, to not go out and try and look at the storm surge or the damage?
02:32You know, absolutely, until the streets are safe to go out on.
02:37You know, if there's water in the streets, don't go into the water because you don't
02:44know what's in there.
02:45There could be live electrical wires and, you know, it's contaminated.
02:51So stay in place.
02:52If you haven't gotten out, just stay where you are until the conditions clear up.
02:59And I just want to ask you on a personal level, obviously, you're the mayor.
03:03People here in this community look to you for answers.
03:05You have lived in the Sarasota area for decades.
03:07This is home to you.
03:09This has got to be a tough storm on a personal level, just what's going through your mind
03:12knowing what Sarasota could look like in 24 hours from now?
03:17It really, it really is upsetting to me.
03:20I've lived in this area for 50 years and have never seen a direct hit from a hurricane.
03:27I think it's something like we haven't had one in a hundred years.
03:30So you know, it, it is worrisome.
03:35I know we'll come back from it better and stronger, but it's going to be a tough one
03:40to get through.
03:42Liz Alpert, Mayor of Sarasota, thank you so much for joining us.
03:44I know we're going to be in touch with updates.
03:47And Bernie and Ariella, again, that's the message.
03:49Again, if folks are watching this morning, or if you're the family or friends watching
03:54at home, you're nervous about your loved ones in the Sarasota area, or especially out on
03:58those barrier islands still, these are not the worst of the impacts.
04:01They haven't even arrived.
04:02If you are on a barrier island, the message is to please get out while you can, because
04:07this is a deadly storm surge threat.
04:09These issues are going to be essentially impossible during the worst of this hurricane.
04:13Bill, last question, you know, to take her aside from the professional and to look at
04:17the personal there, and that really just lets you know how worried folks are into the Sarasota
04:23area and really across the state of Florida.
04:25So Bill, reporting live for us in Sarasota, thank you for that important interview.