Milton was expected to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. The Tampa Bay region could face a direct hit, but the exact path of the storm remains unclear.

Fearful Florida residents streamed out of the Tampa Bay region Tuesday ahead of what could be a once-in-a-century direct hit from Hurricane Milton, as crews worked furiously to prevent furniture, appliances and other waterlogged wreckage from the last big storm from becoming deadly projectiles in this one.

Hurricane Milton weakened overnight as it roared ever closer to Florida, though it’s still poised to be one of the most devastating storms to hit the Tampa Bay area in more than 100 years.