Denis Phillips Gives His Thoughts on Hurricane Milton’s Impact on Tampa Bay

Update: Below is our conversation with Denis yesterday. For the audio of his discussion about Hurricane Milton from this morning, head here.

Yesterday's update:

He's not getting much sleep this week. Denis Phillips from ABC Action News is running on Diet Dr. Pepper and spaghetti models. But he joined The MJ Morning Show on Q105 this morning to give his thoughts on what impacts we could see in the Tampa area when Hurricane Milton arrives late tomorrow night.

Denis now feels tropical storm force winds will arrive late in the morning tomorrow (Wednesday) into early afternoon. 10PM Wednesday through 4AM Thursday is when we'll get the worst of Hurricane Milton.

A second eyewall has developed. Denis says when that process is complete, storms weaken. And that's what's happened. But he says sometimes they regain their strength. He says we should know by this afternoon we'll see the development. Denis says he would be surprised if we see Milton regain the strength we saw yesterday.

The National Hurricane Center still have this as a Category 3 at landfall. Denis thinks this is good news because they tend to want people to prepare for the worst.

Denis reminds us there's still time for those "wobbles." We know when storms are coming in from the south and southwest, they tend to wobble to the right. So today's updates will be telling. But the big "wobbles" happen in the last 6 hours according to Denis. He says nobody should feel they're out of the woods right now. A northwest Manatee County track is where we are now. But Denis says no one can accurately predict those last minute wobbles. Denis says they're impossible to predict.

Here is our list of 5 hurricane prep items you might have forgotten about.

Hurricane season is upon us, and each year seems to be worse than the last. Experts say owning a storm kit is essential because you might need to survive on your own in an emergency.  Anybody can remember to stock up on the essentials (bottled water, food and batteries) but do you have these useful items in your home incase of a big storm?

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also listed hurricane safety tips and resources so you and your family can be prepared.

I know this sounds bias, but it is essential to stay up-to-date with storm tracking. Live and local stations should be your main source of information in the case that you lose power, (and yes, we will be broadcasting for you.)

Okay, this one may seem obvious, until you run out. It’s always a safe bet to confirm that you have extra toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, and if you wear glasses or contacts, make sure you have a backup pair and contact lens solution. Oh and don't forget about prescriptions!

You don’t want to ruin important documents like social security, state issued ID and birth certificates, prescription medication, copies of insurance documents, to name a few. Bonus if you can convert other important documents to an USB flash drive!

If you plan on sticking out the storm at home, it might be a good idea to insure you have some basic home tools and a first aid kit in case there is any damage. A basic tool kit which includes a hammer, nails and screws, a saw, wrench, tarp, and screwdriver is recommended. These tools will also come in handy if you need to manually turn off utilities, like gas or water pipes.

Being so attached to our phones, internet, and video games it may be easy to forget how to keep ourselves entertained while there’s no power. To alleviate boredom and anxiety make sure you have a couple solutions to keep your family relaxed and distracted like: coloring and reading books, board games, toys, and puzzles are all great ways to pass time and let loose!