Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene left more than 230 people dead in the Southeast, another massive hurricane is barreling toward western Florida.

Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified earlier in the week to a Category 5 and is expected to make landfall soon as a slightly weaker major hurricane, bringing destructive flooding and life-threatening storm surge.

The storm’s outer bands arrived to the state on Wednesday. Florida officials said it was the “11th hour” to evacuate and urged residents to “get out” while there was still time Wednesday morning.

Connor Ferran surveys what is left of his Fort Myers home after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off on Wednesday. Milton spawned several tornadoes as it neared landfall.

Connor Ferran surveys what is left of his Fort Myers home after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off on Wednesday. Milton spawned several tornadoes as it neared landfall. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Check-in kiosks are covered in protective plastic at Orlando International Airport on Wednesday. The airport ceased operations at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Check-in kiosks are covered in protective plastic at Orlando International Airport on Wednesday. The airport ceased operations at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Paul Hennessy/Anadolu/Getty Images

People walk through the Disney Springs shopping complex in Orlando ahead of the hurricane's arrival on Wednesday.

People walk through the Disney Springs shopping complex in Orlando ahead of the hurricane’s arrival on Wednesday. Saul Martinez/Getty Images

Stephen Lundgren lies on the floor of the Vanguard High School cafeteria as he tries to get some sleep at the Ocala, Florida, shelter on Wednesday.

Stephen Lundgren lies on the floor of the Vanguard High School cafeteria as he tries to get some sleep at the Ocala, Florida, shelter on Wednesday. Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

Payton Wyse and Andrew Goncharsky pack what they can as they evacuate their Fort Myers apartment on Wednesday.

Payton Wyse and Andrew Goncharsky pack what they can as they evacuate their Fort Myers apartment on Wednesday. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A Lee County deputy sheriff talks to a driver near the Fort Myers Beach bridge, which was closed on Wednesday.

A Lee County deputy sheriff talks to a driver near the Fort Myers Beach bridge, which was closed on Wednesday. Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters

Nicolette Mariano, CEO and aquaculture biologist for her oyster farm, Treasure Coast Shellfish, secures oysters from the farm's dockside nursery in Sebastian, Florida, on Wednesday.

Nicolette Mariano, CEO and aquaculture biologist for her oyster farm, Treasure Coast Shellfish, secures oysters from the farm’s dockside nursery in Sebastian, Florida, on Wednesday. Kaila Jones/TC Palm/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

A man wades through a street in Havana, Cuba, that was flooded on Wednesday.

A man wades through a street in Havana, Cuba, that was flooded on Wednesday. Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images

An employee of Roofs Done Right attaches metal shutters to a Palm Beach building on Wednesday.

An employee of Roofs Done Right attaches metal shutters to a Palm Beach building on Wednesday. Damon Higgins/Palm Beach Daily News/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Ted Carlson puts McKenzie, a cat belonging to his friend Evan Purcell, into a pickup truck as they evacuate Purcell's home on Florida's Anna Maria Island on Tuesday, October 8. "This place couldn't handle Helene," Carlson said. "It's all going to be gone."

Ted Carlson puts McKenzie, a cat belonging to his friend Evan Purcell, into a pickup truck as they evacuate Purcell’s home on Florida’s Anna Maria Island on Tuesday, October 8. “This place couldn’t handle Helene,” Carlson said. “It’s all going to be gone.” Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Members of the Florida Army National Guard check for any remaining residents in nearly deserted Bradenton Beach on Tuesday. Around them, piles of debris from Hurricane Helene still sit outside damaged homes.

Members of the Florida Army National Guard check for any remaining residents in nearly deserted Bradenton Beach on Tuesday. Around them, piles of debris from Hurricane Helene still sit outside damaged homes. Rebecca Blackwell/AP

A hospital worker walks by as an AquaFence flood wall is put into place around Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday.

A hospital worker walks by as an AquaFence flood wall is put into place around Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick <a href="https://x.com/dominickmatthew/status/1843671971566940197" target="_blank">shared this photo</a> from the International Space Station on Tuesday. "We flew over Hurricane Milton about 90 minutes ago," he said. "Here is the view out the Dragon Endeavour window."

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick shared this photo from the International Space Station on Tuesday. “We flew over Hurricane Milton about 90 minutes ago,” he said. “Here is the view out the Dragon Endeavour window.” NASA

Aurelio Ortiz sits in his flooded home in Celestún, Mexico, on Tuesday.

Aurelio Ortiz sits in his flooded home in Celestún, Mexico, on Tuesday. Lorenzo Hernandez/Reuters

Debris from homes flooded by Hurricane Helene is piled up on curbs in Port Richey, Florida, on Tuesday.

Debris from homes flooded by Hurricane Helene is piled up on curbs in Port Richey, Florida, on Tuesday. Mike Carlson/AP

People prepare sandbags in Orlando on Tuesday.

People prepare sandbags in Orlando on Tuesday. Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

John Fedor waits for transportation to a shelter after his flight was canceled at the Tampa International Airport on Tuesday.

John Fedor waits for transportation to a shelter after his flight was canceled at the Tampa International Airport on Tuesday. Chris O’Meara/AP

David Jalving throws outdoor furniture into his father's pool in Fort Myers to prepare for Hurricane Milton.

David Jalving throws outdoor furniture into his father’s pool in Fort Myers to prepare for Hurricane Milton. Marta Lavandier/AP

Heavy traffic flows northbound on Interstate 75 as people evacuate the Tampa Bay area late on Monday, October 7.

Heavy traffic flows northbound on Interstate 75 as people evacuate the Tampa Bay area late on Monday, October 7. Julio Cortez/AP

A man clears debris left by Hurricane Helene from his home in Treasure Island, Florida, on Monday.

A man clears debris left by Hurricane Helene from his home in Treasure Island, Florida, on Monday. Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

A dock is damaged in St. Pete Beach, Florida, on Monday.

A dock is damaged in St. Pete Beach, Florida, on Monday. Octavio Jones/Reuters

Piles of debris from Hurricane Helene remain uncollected ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in Treasure Island, Florida, US, on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Milton strengthened into a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane as it bears down on Florida's west coast, where residents have begun to flee inland in a region still recovering from Helene's devastation. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Piles of debris from Hurricane Helene remain uncollected in Treasure Island, Florida, on Monday. Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Domenic Gerald takes a break to watch the latest forecast while packing up his father's vacation home in Fort Myers Beach on Monday.

Domenic Gerald takes a break to watch the latest forecast while packing up his father’s vacation home in Fort Myers Beach on Monday. Marta Lavandier/AP

A man in Progreso boards up an apartment building to protect it from Hurricane Milton on Monday.

A man in Progreso boards up an apartment building to protect it from Hurricane Milton on Monday. Martin Zetina/AP

Contractors in New Port Richey help clean debris left by Hurricane Helene.

Contractors in New Port Richey help clean debris left by Hurricane Helene. Mike Carlson/AP

Tropicana Field, in St. Petersburg, Florida, opened Monday as a staging site for workers and operations.

Tropicana Field, in St. Petersburg, Florida, opened Monday as a staging site for workers and operations. Octavio Jones/Reuters

Customers check mostly empty bread shelves at a shopping warehouse in Kissimmee, Florida, on Sunday, October 6.

Customers check mostly empty bread shelves at a shopping warehouse in Kissimmee, Florida, on Sunday, October 6. Gregg Newton/AFP/Getty Images