People take shelter at Buffalo Creek Middle School ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall in Bradenton, Florida. Photo: AFP / Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo
Milton is expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida on Thursday (NZ time) as a dangerous major hurricane, the second huge storm to hit the US in a fortnight.
The storm has exploded in strength as it nears the Tampa region.
"It's a matter of life and death, and that's not hyperbole," US President Biden said from the White House, urging those under orders to leave to "evacuate now, now, now".
Across the southeastern United States, emergency workers are still struggling to provide relief after Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 230 people across several states.
Follow RNZ's live updates:
