‘Gators, stingrays, snakes’: Floridians urged to avoid floodwaters
TAMPA, Fla. (NewsNation) — Florida officials are warning the public to avoid floodwaters caused by Hurricane Milton, saying a myriad of dangers are lurking in murky water.
Frank Robb, an alligator expert and founder of the nonprofit group Environmental Education Awareness Research Support and Services (EEARSS), told NewsNation the dangers you face largely depend on where you live.
“If you're coastal, you have to worry about everything from stingrays to alligators, you know. If you're in South Florida, you gotta think about crocodiles, snakes — of course,” Robb said. “It's definitely something to be aware of and keep on your mind.”
The worst storm surge appeared to be in Sarasota County, where it was 8 to 10 feet — lower than in the worst place during Helene. The storm also dumped up to 18 inches of rain in some areas.
Robb recommends avoiding floodwaters at all costs but has advice for those who need to venture outside.
“Obviously, if it's not water you can see through, you probably shouldn't be wading through it,” he said. “If you have to walk through it, carry a walking stick, something to put in front of you to feel where you're going.”
Robb cautioned, however, that the most dangerous things dwelling in the depths of the dark water aren’t likely to be animals.
“You should be worried about microscopic organisms and bacteria. Those are the things to be really concerned about,” he said. “Wildlife is going to be wildlife no matter what."
"The last thing they want to do is have an interaction with you," Robb added. "Again, it's the bacteria, pathogens and things of that nature that should really be on people's mind.”
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.
Date: |
-
Top stories - CBS News
Tampa avoids direct hit from Hurricane Milton
Tampa, Florida, was not directly hit by Hurricane Milton as it made landfall Wednesday, but there's still destruction on a massive scale as hundreds of thousands are without power.Yesterday -
Top stories - NBC News
Watch: Officials rescue teen on floating debris from Milton floodwaters
The Hillsborough County Marine Unit rescued a 14-year-old boy who was on floating debris from Hurricane Milton floodwaters.19 hours ago -
Top stories - ABC News
WATCH: Florida sheriff rescues teen from floodwaters after Hurricane Milton
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and the marine unit rescued a 14-year-old boy who was found submerged in floodwaters and floating on debris after Hurricane Milton.12 hours ago - Florida -
Politics - The Hill
12:30 Report — Floridians flee ahead of Hurricane Milton’s evening landfall
{beacon} 12:30 REPORT It’s Wednesday. The coverage of Hurricane Milton is so scary. Please, everyone, follow evacuation orders. Here’s what’s happening: Hurricane Milton is expected to make ...Yesterday -
Top stories - ABC News
Supreme Court could give Oklahoma murderer another shot at avoiding execution
The Supreme Court appears likely to give Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip another shot in court at overturning his conviction for lack of a fair trial.Yesterday -
Sports - ESPN
Injuries, turnovers and just plain bad execution: Here's why the 49ers don't look like juggernauts
The 49ers face the Seahawks on Thursday night in a pivotal division game.13 hours ago - NFL -
Politics - Politico
Congress clears December spending patch, avoiding preelection shutdown
September 25 -
Top stories - NBC News
Central Beirut rocked by Israeli strikes; dozens reported killed at Gaza school
U.S. urges Israel to address 'catastrophic conditions' in GazaYesterday - Israel -
Top stories - BBC News
Obama urges vote for Harris in 'tight' presidential race
Former President Barack Obama rallies support for Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania, a key swing state.10 hours ago - Kamala Harris
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
Walz launching media blitz aimed at male voters
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), the Democratic nominee for vice president, is launching a media blitz this weekend with a focus on appealing to male voters as polls show Vice President Harris trailing ...22 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Lawmakers press FTC chair on federal price gouging ban
A group of mostly Democrats pressed Federal Trade Commission (FT) Chair Lina Khan this week for more information on how a federal price gouging ban could help “hold bad actors accountable” in the ...23 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Harris, a freedom-loving defense hawk, is the choice for traditional conservatives
Conservatives should vote for Kamala Harris because she is a pragmatic center-right politician who understands the importance of national security, the economy, and our influence in the world.27 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Harris ahead of Trump by 2 points in Pennsylvania survey
Vice President Harris is ahead of former President Trump by 2 points in Pennsylvania, according to a survey that was released on Thursday. Harris led by 2 points in Pennsylvania, 46.8 percent to ...27 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Coast Guard rescues man clinging to cooler near Sarasota
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man holding onto a cooler about 30 miles off of Longboat Key in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, according to a post on the social platform ...42 minutes ago