Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, and the Tampa airport has suspended flights starting Tuesday morning.
The airport was closed around 9 a.m.
Travel from Bradley International Airport was also affected. As of early Tuesday morning, flights to and from Tampa and Fort Myers were canceled.
However, flights to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami were still possible, allowing many people to visit loved ones. Several travelers were leaving on Tuesday.
“I’m going to my sister’s baby shower in Orlando,” said West Hartford resident Rose Clark.
Clark has special plans in store, as do Donna Peterson and her family.
“We were heading to Tampa for my mom’s 81st birthday,” said Peterson, who lives in Hopewell Junction, New York.
However, at the last minute, Peterson changed his flight to Orlando, where he will remain until the storm passes. But her sister and brother-in-law live in Tampa Bay and are already preparing for Milton.
“She got boarded up at my house because we got hit by the last storm. So she got boarded up and is heading to my parents. Because it is not.”
After Hurricane Helen, she says the first floor of her sister’s house was under several inches of water and she had to move everything out.
“I mean, she did better than some people in the first round. You never know what’s going to happen,” Peterson said.
While she waits to see what the storm will bring, others are hoping it doesn’t affect their weekend plans. Rose Clark plans to travel to the Sunshine State for her sister’s baby shower on Sunday.
“She’s like, it’s hurricane season, which happens a lot. But she’s inland, so I don’t think she’s worried a little bit. But her in-laws are on the coast. I definitely worry a little more when I’m in there,” Clark said. “I really hope it doesn’t hit them too hard because they’ve already been hit hard. We just hope for the best.”
Most flights from Bradley to Florida took off Tuesday morning. The Southwest flight from Orlando is scheduled to arrive around 10:50 a.m., and another flight is scheduled to arrive around 5:10 p.m.
The Connecticut Airport Authority advises people to contact their specific airline for more information.
