Florida authorities have called for the mass evacuation of over 5.5 million residents in connection with the approach of Hurricane Milton, TASS reports citing The New York Times.

The seriousness of the situation is underscored by the fact that even those residents who usually ignored such warnings decided to follow the recommendations of the authorities this time. In order to avoid a traffic collapse on major highways, people are urged to take refuge in the nearest shelters, without going far inland.

Newsweek magazine previously reported on the possibility that Milton could exceed the maximum, category 5, on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Meteorologists from the Berkeley Laboratory at the University of California even propose introducing a category 6 for such super-powerful hurricanes.

In response to the impending threat, US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in the state on October 7, ordering federal support for local authorities. The hurricane is expected to reach the coast of Florida on Wednesday or in the first half of Thursday.

Experts predict Milton will bring destructive waves more than 10 feet high that will hit the west coast of Florida, including the Tampa Bay area.