Floridians flee looming catastrophe as Hurricane Milton approaches

The storm was on a collision course for the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, though forecasters said the path could vary before the storm makes landfall

Nelson Hoyos loads sandbags for his business in Oakland Park, in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton

Floridians on Wednesday had one final day to evacuate or hunker down ahead of the Category 5 Hurricane Milton, potentially one of the most destructive ever to hit the Gulf Coast of Florida.

With more than 1 million people in coastal areas under evacuation orders, those fleeing for higher ground clogged highways and gas stations ran out of fuel, further rattling a region still recovering from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.