Researched by Industrial Info Resources--Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 165 miles per hour, was barreling toward the central Florida peninsula Tuesday, with its pathway gradually widening to engulf a larger swath of the Sunshine State, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Industrial Info is tracking progress at more than 980 operational plants in the area to be affected by Milton most severely, the bulk of which are in the Power, Industrial Manufacturing and Food & Beverage industries. Industrial Info also is tracking 78 plants in the area that are planned, engineered or under construction.

Between 10 to 20 feet of storm surge is expected to hit the Tampa area. Milton is believed to be the strongest hurricane in the Gulf since Rita in 2005, the fifth-strongest Atlantic hurricane based on pressure, and the sixth-strongest Atlantic hurricane based on its peak winds, according to the NHC. Individual counties have the authority to call for evacuations, but Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said he's preparing for the largest evacuation since 2017's Hurricane Irma.

Governor Ron DeSantis warned residents Tuesday "time is running out" to evacuate. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor was quite blunt on CNN Monday night: "I can say without any dramatization whatsoever, if you choose to stay in one of those [mandatory] evacuation areas, you're going to die."

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Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).

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