Anxious Britons hunker down as hurricane roars in

Melissa Rutter and Dan King, a British couple, were enjoying their holiday in Florida when they learned about Hurricane Milton approaching the area. They had planned to return home on Wednesday after spending two weeks in the sunshine, but their flight was canceled due to the impending storm. The couple took a cheerful photo in front of the iconic Universal Studios globe, both dressed in white t-shirts and black shorts, but now they are feeling anxious as the hurricane draws near. Dan, who has visited Florida many times, expressed that this is the first time he has seen locals so worried about a storm. To ensure their safety, they decided to stay in a hotel close to Orlando Airport. Melissa mentioned that they gathered essential supplies, saying, 'The building itself is quite sturdy, so I'm guessing there won't be much damage, hopefully. ' However, she admitted that the anxiety is starting to set in. Meteorologists have warned that Hurricane Milton could be one of the worst storms to hit Florida in nearly a hundred years. The couple is particularly concerned about the strong winds, which are expected to reach speeds of 155 miles per hour. Melissa shared, 'The current predictions are that we're in the path of the hurricane. ' They stocked up on food and water, preparing for the possibility of losing power and water during the storm. They even made a plan to move a mattress into the bathroom if necessary to ride out the storm safely. After two weeks in the US, they were hoping to fly back home on Friday evening, but they are uncertain if that will happen due to the storm's impact on the area and the airport. 'We don't really know what's going on,' Melissa said. Dan added that they were informed their hotel would have limited staff during the hurricane, and guests were given glow sticks to use in case of a power outage. Although they considered leaving Florida, they decided against it because it would take a long time to drive to safety. Dan noted that Floridians are usually very proactive when it comes to hurricanes, and many were already preparing by putting up shutters before Milton's arrival. Last month, Hurricane Helene, which was also a category four storm, caused significant destruction and resulted in the loss of at least 225 lives across several states. Dan believes that the memory of Helene is still fresh in the minds of the locals, and there are fears that Milton could worsen the situation. Weather experts have warned of heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and high winds, with storm surges expected to push water inland from the coast. They predict that the storm surge could reach heights of 10 to 15 feet, with localized rainfall potentially reaching up to 18 inches. As the couple waits for the storm to pass, they are trying to stay calm and hopeful for their safety.