Florida was bracing Wednesday for Hurricane Milton to make landfall, as officials are warning that it could be the most destructive storm on record to hit the region.

Hurricane Milton strengthened into a dangerously powerful hurricane on a path toward Florida population centers, threatening a 12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.

Florida officials continue to implore residents to evacuate as Hurricane Milton nears landfall Wednesday, with Gov. Ron DeSantis saying on Tuesday that “time is running out” for residents to protect themselves from the deadly storm.