Harris: Consulate ready to help Irish citizens or tourists trapped by hurricane Milton approaches

This GOES-16 GeoColor satellite image taken at 12:15 p.m. EDT and provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Milton in the Gulf of Mexico

The Irish consulate in Miami stands ready to assist any residents or tourists caught up in hurricane Milton, the Taoiseach has said.

Hurricane Milton is currently tracking towards the west coast of Florida. Millions of people have been ordered to evacuate and local officials have warned that anyone who remains behind is likely to die.

Speaking in Washington ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden, Simon Harris said: "I'm conscious that there may be many Irish people residing in Florida or visiting Florida. My message for any Irish people living in Florida, or indeed in any area that may be hit by this hurricane or any Irish person visiting that area, is that our that our consulate in Miami stands ready to help and assist with any information or assistance that may be required in the hours and days ahead."

He added: "I'm really conscious that there's a huge national effort underway here to prepare for an extraordinarily significant hurricane, and obviously our thoughts are with all of those who are in the path of this hurricane, which may well land later today."

Earlier, Irish travel company American Holidays said it has been rearranging travel plans for 70 Irish people who are in Florida at present to take them out of the path of Hurricane Milton.

According to American Holiday's Bladhana Richardson, the company has moved 70 Irish tourists from the coast, to central Florida, and they are in constant contact.

“Anyone who has been on the coast, we have moved into central Florida, away from the known affected areas," she told RTÉ

"It is mainly couples at the moment. We do have some families, but as it’s outside of school holidays, thankfully there's less families traveling at the moment.

“We're in constant contact with them. We have been moving their bookings if we need to move them. 

We've been giving them updates and asking them to do practical things like keep their phones charged and follow the guidance of the hotels where they'll be staying.

According to Ms Richardson, the theme parks in Orlando are to close at 2pm today, and will remained closed tomorrow.

"All of those hotels and parks are fully equipped to deal with known hurricanes, so follow local advice.

“We are keeping people updated on forums like Facebook and social media on some of the experiences they might have booked,” she said.

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. Picture: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Ms Richardson also confirmed that the people who were scheduled to travel to the Tampa area in the next 24 hours have been contacted and their travel is being rearranged.

“We understand that the airports continue to be closed or flights are being cancelled or rearranged. We are constantly in contact with them. 

"Anyone who has a booking with another tour operator or travel agent, we would strongly advise them to contact them so they can also help their travel be re-managed. And I'm sure that those tour operators and travel agents are doing that currently," she concluded.

The Tampa Bay area is home to more than 3.3 million people.

The US National Hurricane Centre predicted Milton, a monstrous Category 5 hurricane during much of its approach, would likely weaken but remain a major hurricane when it makes landfall late on Wednesday.

Milton was centred early on Wednesday about 360 miles south-west of Tampa with maximum sustained winds of 160mph, the National Hurricane Centre reported.

Forecasters predicted the storm will retain hurricane strength as it crosses central Florida on Thursday on a path east toward the Atlantic Ocean.

The hurricane’s precise track remains uncertain, as forecasters on Tuesday evening nudged its projected path slightly south of Tampa.

Thousands of fleeing cars clogged Florida’s major roads ahead of the storm, but time for evacuations is running out on Wednesday.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that up to 15ft of storm surge forecast for her city would be deep enough to swallow an entire house.

“So if you’re in it, basically, that’s the coffin that you’re in,” she said.

Milton targets communities that are still reeling two weeks after Hurricane Helene flooded streets and homes in western Florida along its devasting route that left at least 230 dead across the South.

- Additional reporting byVivienne Clarke