Florida's major airports shut down, including routes from LI, as Milton looms
A flight information board with cancelled flights to Tampa is shown at the Philadelphia International Airport. Credit: AP/Alejandro A. Alvarez/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP
Looming Hurricane Milton has closed several of Florida's major airports, including several served by routes to and from Long Island.
Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota and Southwest Florida airports are all shut as Milton remained on a dangerous path toward the state and threatened a destructive storm surge.
As of Wednesday, at least four flights were canceled out of Long Island MacArthur Airport, according to the website FlightAware.
Florida airports top FlightAware's charts for the number of canceled departures and arrivals, with 425 canceled inbound flights, or 95%, and 400 inbound flights, or 88%.
"Orlando International Airport has ceased operations due to Hurricane Milton," says the airport’s website.
The threat of the hurricane has led to the closures of theme parks and attractions across central Florida, including Disney World.
The hurricane is hurdling toward the west coast of the state. The Tampa Bay area, inhabited by millions, is facing the prospect of wide-scale destruction despite avoiding direct impacts from other hurricanes for over a century.
FEMA emergency management agency head Deanne Criswell Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" urged evacuations and people to stay away from the areas expected to be impacted the worst.
"Nobody has to die from this storm. They just need to move out of the evacuation zone area into a place that is going to be safe from the storm surge. I believe there's still time in some areas," she said.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
Milton plows toward Florida ... Wall Street profits helping LI economy ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
Milton plows toward Florida ... Wall Street profits helping LI economy ... Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV
