Bromsgrove couple prepare for Hurricane Milton in Orlando

A couple on holiday in Orlando are preparing to bunker down in their hotel ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton.

Melissa Rutter and her partner Daniel King, from Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire, said they were “quite nervous” as the powerful category five storm heads towards Florida.

Millions of people in the state are rushing to evacuate, with Milton expected to hit the Tampa area later alongside winds of up to 165mph.

US President Joe Biden has warned residents that leaving was a matter of “life and death” ahead of the hurricane’s landfall.

Ms Rutter, who is staying at the Hilton Hotel in Orlando, said “current predictions” were that the area was “in the path of the hurricane”.

Speaking of the view from her window, she described the scene as “eerily calm” with clear blue skies and “no wind”.

“We went to the shop yesterday and stocked up on water and food as we are told that we could lose some power and water potentially,” she told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

“I think the anxiety kind of kicking in… for me, it’s definitely kicking in quite a bit now.”

The pair said they had received a letter from the hotel advising that staff would be reduced on the site as a precaution, and that all furniture should be brought inside from the balcony in preparation for the storm.

Mr King said local people had been “very proactive” but were still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene two weeks ago, which killed more than 200 people.

“I’ve been to Florida a few times now and through a few different hurricanes, but this is the only time where everybody local seems to be very, very worried about it,” he said.

“This is just going to compound it, all the damage that has been caused.”

The pair told the BBC that despite having a car, other options to flee the storm were impractical, with roads busy in the area as people attempted to evacuate.

Ms Rutter added they had been due to fly home on Wednesday afternoon, but the flight had since been cancelled.

“We have managed to get on to a flight on Friday evening, but obviously that could potentially be cancelled as well, depending on the damage to the area and the airport,” she explained.