Lake Worth Beach, where Koskinen lives, is on the verge of being hit by Hurricane Milton, which is approaching Florida.
Lived in Florida, USA for more than 30 years Mikko Koskinen worries with his wife whether their Lake Worth Beach community will be ravaged by Hurricane Milton.
A Category 4 hurricane is expected to make landfall overnight or in the morning on Florida’s west coast near Tampa. Koskinen lives on the east coast and further south.
– At first it seemed that the hurricane would hit the city of Tampa. Now it would seem that the place is a little further south, and we are on the border of whether we are in the hurricane zone. We are definitely in the area of a tropical storm, where the wind is maybe 24–38 m/s, Koskinen told on Wednesday evening by phone.
– Let’s hope it doesn’t change its direction further south, says Koskinen, who is the editor-in-chief of the Finnish-language Amerikan uutiset magazine.
The hurricane is predicted to raise up to 5-6 meter waves in the Tampa area, which can cover houses on the coast. However, the hurricane would have to cross the peninsula to Koskinen’s place of residence, so there is not the same threat. Instead, flood water can wreak havoc.
“Experienced dozens of hurricanes”
– In 30 years, we have seen dozens of hurricanes, smaller and bigger. I’ve gotten a feel for what to expect, where they will hit and how to prepare, says Koskinen.
So far, the Koskis are not about to run away, and they don’t know that any of their neighbors have left. Instead, the grocery store was full of people hoarding food, water and batteries during the day.
Time is now passing by following the news about the progress of the hurricane.
– If a hurricane like Milton came towards the house, you would have to run away, Koskinen states.
– We have had a few hurricanes come directly from the top of the house. It’s a horrible feeling. Like a train coming on. And the howl of the wind in the corners, it’s really scary.
Window guards ready
The rapids have prepared well. Plywood is ready to cover the windows and nail holes are ready in the walls. There is water and food available, and in the event of a power outage, a grill.
If the situation calls for it, Koskinen together with a neighbor will fasten the plywood so that the wind and objects flying with it cannot get in.
Lake Worth Beach is also well protected. The sewer network has been renewed in such a way that water does not end up lying on the street.
– It’s windy now. It’s not raining yet. The rains will come in the evening and continue until tomorrow evening. Little by little, the wind will pick up, there will be eddies before the actual hurricane, Koskinen said in the afternoon, i.e. in the evening Finnish time.