Debris removal continued throughout the state as officials urged residents to prepare for the worst and heed evacuation orders. “If you’re in the path of Hurricane #Milton, the time to act is NOW,” the Federal Emergency Management Agency posed on X. A member of the Florida Army National Guard removes debris in St. Petersburg on Monday ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall. In Sarasota County, officials warned residents not to let their guards down and ordered evacuations for the barrier islands and for people in mobile or manufactured homes. “We take it serious, but we are not getting too excited about it.”Jesse Kirsch reported from Sarasota, Florida; Dana Griffin from Naples Beach, Florida; Chase Cain, from Orlando, Florida; and Alicia Victoria Lozano from Los Angeles.

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