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.

The International Space Station captures images ofHurricane Milton closing in on Florida’s Gulf Coast ::::Dominick MatthewEvacuation orders are in effect for millions of residents along more than 300 miles (483 km) of coastline,