Raleigh man worries about family in Tampa as Hurricane Milton approaches

A Raleigh grandfather is deeply concerned as his son and family decide to stay in Tampa, with Hurricane Milton expected to bring 8 to 12 feet of water to the city.

John Goode, known for his commitment to giving back through food drives in Raleigh’s historic Method Community, is now focused on the safety of his son, Derek Goode, and his family, who have chosen to ride out the storm in Tampa.

During a Zoom interview, Derek, who is retired from the Air Force, shared that his family feels ready for the hurricane.

“We actually never really leave. Our area that we live in, we’re far away enough from the beach that we’re not affected by storm surge,” Derrick Goode, Tampa resident said

However, Derek’s biggest concern is the aftermath, particularly losing power once the storm passes.

“We have battery-operated fans and things like that, which help, but power outages and the heat are usually the biggest concerns,” he said.

Derek also mentioned that traffic has been heavy as many residents try to leave the state.

John expressed his worry for his son’s safety, recalling past experiences.

“I’ve been to Tampa so many different times and all and every time a hurricane hit, man, the whole town is flooded,” he said.

As of Wednesday, Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 4 storm, was moving across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.

The National Hurricane Center reported that the hurricane, expected to make landfall late tonight, has already triggered tornadic supercell storms across the southern peninsula.