A Hurricane Is Heading for Tampa Bay, Florida
HAVANA TIMES – I walk through Sunset Park, one of the most beautiful areas of Tampa, located just a few miles from the bay.
The morning began with a cloudy sky and a very light, almost imperceptible drizzle that falls intermittently.
I observe the houses, which are immense, beautiful, surrounded by trees that provide a paradisiacal view of this place.
Two children walk by with apparent unconcern, which I imagine contrasts with their parents’ feelings.
My mind, captivated, leads me to a realistic and terrifying thought. Without being a fortune teller, I can already visualize the damage that Hurricane Milton will cause in this area, as well as in a considerable part of the city.
In Cuba, I experienced the effects of three hurricanes; this will be the fourth. Almost all forecast models indicate that tomorrow night it will make landfall where I live, or at least very close, with a category 3 or 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
It’s inevitable, and I am worried. Unlike Cuba, here I don’t have a house to lose, but the prospect of the likely destruction of the apartment I rent still causes me great anxiety.
The city woke up concerned. Its residents are flooding the supermarkets.
At a Walmart, I see almost empty shelves. People, frantically, buy products in large quantities to withstand the coming days —days of destruction, without electricity, without water, etc.
Meanwhile, I roam half of Tampa to take care of an essential task. I must finish it today. I don’t have many hours left because the monster is approaching, and the destruction will be great. I hope I’m wrong.