As Hurricane Milton barrels toward central Florida, thousands are struggling to leave before its expected landfall Wednesday afternoon. But thousands more will not, despite evacuation orders across eight counties in the Tampa Bay area. That includes Pasco County, where my in-laws live—their house is slightly out of the mandatory evacuation zone, but giv…
My Relatives Live in the Path of Hurricane Milton. They Refuse to Evacuate.

People walk past boarded-up storefronts in Tampa ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall. “In the Sunshine State, there’s a culture around non-evacuation—one I’ve experienced firsthand,” writes River Page for The Free Press. (Bryan R. Smith via Getty Images)
In Florida, people take pride in staying put in the face of a storm. It’s a culture I’ve experienced firsthand.
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