Florida – As Hurricane Milton approaches the state, some Floridians are evacuating at the last minute by either roadway or through the air.
The large storm has already begun impacting Florida’s west coast and airports throughout the state are adjusting their plans accordingly.
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Those with travel plans are advised to check their flight status regularly through their selected airline or a flight tracker.
Related: Jacksonville Humane Society searching for families to foster pets during Hurricane Milton | ‘This is better news’: Jacksonville mayor says rainfall projections have dropped since Tuesday as Milton approaches
Jacksonville International Airport
According to a News4Jax team member at the airport, staff are asking people to check their flight status with the airline before coming.
Karen Duncan is one of many people making the last-minute evacuations.
She came to Jacksonville hoping to escape the damage Hurricane Milton could do to her home in St. Pete Beach.
But now, Duncan is leaving the area and heading to Maine to stay with her daughter to escape Milton’s wrath.
“I have to be in a place where I have electricity for sure,” Duncan said. “And Jacksonville was going to be that place, but now it is a little bit, touch and go, to hear whether we’re going to get storm surge and lose power and all those sorts of things... my oxygen requires that I have power all the time.”
Derrick Jones, who said he is leaving the state because he’s taking this hurricane seriously, also flew out of JIA on Wednesday. He lives in Gainesville.
News4JAX spoke with him as he was headed to TSA so he wouldn’t miss his flight to Baltimore.
“I mean a house is a material thing. You can get that back. I can’t get my life back so I figured it’s better safe than sorry,” Jones said.
As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jacksonville International Airport’s operations were minimally impacted.
One JetBlue flight leaving Jacksonville and heading to Fort Lauderdale around 9 a.m. was canceled, while an American Airlines flight destined for Miami was also canceled.
Meanwhile, seven flights arriving in Jacksonville were canceled, including an American Airlines flight from Chicago, two American Airlines flights from Miami, one Frontier Airlines flight from Philadelphia, and three JetBlue flights from Fort Lauderdale, New York, and Boston.
Also, delays are minor. The most significant delay was about 30 minutes (a Delta flight scheduled to leave Jacksonville for Detroit around noon left around 12:30 p.m.)
Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport
No cancellations or delays have been reported.
Daytona Beach International Airport
On Tuesday, the Daytona Beach International Airport ceased all commercial and private operations. “Reopening on Friday will be determined after post-storm inspections.”
Tampa International Airport
On Monday, the Tampa International Airport suspended all operations, saying, “TPA plans to resume services as soon as it is safe to do so later this week, but passengers should check with their airlines regarding flight schedules.”
Orlando International Airport
On Monday, the Orlando International Airport suspended all operations, adding that while commercial operations have ceased, emergency/aid and relief flights will remain open as necessary.
“Normal operations will resume as soon as possible. Once a damage assessment has been conducted of all airport facilities and immediate safety issues addressed, the airlines will be allowed to resume limited operations, gradually building to a normal flight schedule,” the airport said.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Most flights have operated normally with a few exceptions, including about 20 canceled flights between departures and arrivals out of over 100.
The airport has not announced any closures or suspension of operations.
