In the last few hours, Tiktok has been filled with videos of young Floridians, explaining how they are preparing their homes, their pets and themselves for the passage of Hurricane Milton, the strongest ever recorded in the Big Bend region and the third to hit the area in 13 months.
“Hi, I’m Camilla, I’ve lived in Florida for almost five years and this is my fourth hurricane”. The format is similar to Grwm, ‘get ready with me’, or those in which influencers describe the days leading up to their wedding or rhinoplasty and, as in those cases, captivates the most curious through an intimate and personal narrative that allows a glimpse into the lives and homes of those being recorded.
@ilary.ab Secondo Urgano da quando vivo qui in Florida #fyp #internationalstudent #hurricane #florida #studyabroad #perte #hurricanemilton ♬ New Home - Frozen Silence
The steps are more or less the same for everyone: the gardens are cleared of furniture and potted plants, because the first parameter that determines the intensity of a hurricane is the strength of the wind. Then there are the various tutorials in the kitchen, where food is prepared for the coming days, and the rows of containers in which food is sorted and organised with a great deal of satisfaction and contentment on the part of the viewer.
Milton’s path, like that of Helene, the hurricane that devastated several areas in the same region two weeks ago, is predictable and can be tracked a few days in advance on a special platform where you simply enter your address. As a result, videos have been appearing for some time now of people stocking up on supplies, especially water bottles, recharging all household appliances, filling up with petrol and, in some cases, barricading doors and windows with large wooden planks.
@ilary.ab Mettiamo in sicurezza la casa per l’arrivo dell’uragano Milton 🌀 #perte #hurricane #hurricanemilton #florida #fyp #internationalstudent ♬ OK - Joey Valence & Brae
Residents in Zone A, the most vulnerable, have been told to evacuate, and so in the house (of Tiktok, not the real one, ed) you are likely to hear “I’ll pack my bag with you to evacuate Tampa”.
Experts say climate change is making hurricanes stronger and more destructive. Residents of the area appear to be fully prepared for Milton’s arrival, but the worsening situation is prompting more and more people to prepare themselves so as not to be caught off guard. One of the TikToks marked with the hashtag #hurricane begins: “So many of you have asked me to give you a tour of my hurricane”.
@islayyxx I just want to talk to the person who’s in charge of his schedule bc conveniently he’s always gone when the hurricanes are coming 🤨 #hurricanemilton #tampa #tampabay #hurricaneseason #florida #pilotwife ♬ Just A Girl - No Doubt
Opening image: Free Malaysia Today