Officials also warned about potentially deadly bacteria in the waters.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center of the storm.
A landfall near Fort Myers, about 95 miles south, could cause $70 billion in losses, Jefferies Financial Group stock analyst Yaron Kinar said.
Hurricane Milton intensified to Category 5 with 180 mph winds, nearing its maximum potential intensity before weakening to Category 4 as it approaches Florida.
Officials suspended toll collections and allowed motorists to drive on the shoulder of local highways to ease the massive evacuation effort.
It could be the worst hurricane loss in Georgia's history.
Tampa could experience 15 feet of water as a storm surge combines with high tides.
The storm is classified as a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest on the scale.
The storm jumped from a Category 2 storm to a Category 5 storm on Monday morning.
Last week, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was mocked after suggesting Democrats can control the weather.
The storm went from a Category 2 hurricane to a Category 4 hurricane on Monday morning.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to 120 MPH as the storm heads to Florida's Gulf Coast.
The storm is forecast to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday, then cut across the Sunshine State to the Atlantic Ocean.
Former president has been peddling stories that only Democratic areas are getting help
Less than ten days after Hurricane Helene struck Florida, the state is preparing for another possible severe impact from a hurricane
The only road to Pensacola, in the remote mountains of western North Carolina, is now a muddy path through deep, twisting gorges
Jones decided to walk the last 30 miles of his journey after a state trooper told him that both interstate and side roads were covered in debris.
The photo claiming to picture an Appalachian State University student has received more than 79,000 upvotes and thousands of comments.
Doctors on social media are warning Georgia residents to stay inside as a chemical plume from a fire at a BioLab facility continues to spread hazardous toxins into the air
North Carolina officials said candidates going there require many resources it's more important to focus them on addressing the aftermath of the catastrophic storm
Residents of Tampa Bay have turned to social media for help after Hurricane Helen brought significant storm surge and rainfall to the area, causing flooding.
Residents riding out the storm were also asked to email information about the people staying being so that they could be prioritized by Search and Rescue.