The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will evacuate Tampa on Tuesday morning, ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Milton strengthened to a Category 5 storm Monday and is on course to make landfall Wednesday in Florida.  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has urged residents in the Tampa Bay Area to start preparing to leave their homes and heed evacuation orders.

The team announced Monday: “In advance of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall, the Buccaneers will depart Tampa on Tuesday morning. The team will relocate operations to the New Orleans area for the remainder of the week leading up to Sunday’s game at the Saints. Media availabilities will be conducted virtually beginning on Wednesday.”

The Buccaneers will move operations for the rest of week to New Orleans, where the Bucs will prepare for their Week 6 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.  The team plans on leaving Tampa on Tuesday and will remain in New Orleans through the remainder of the week, and will hold media availability over Zoom calls.

While the Bucs didn’t lose any practice two weeks ago in the wake of Hurricane Helene (and were able to practice at their indoor facility) the track for Milton – either directly impacting Tampa Bay or making landfall north of the area – could lead to catastrophic storm surge and damage.

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