.png)
2 months ago
16
A Florida man nicknamed Lieutenant Dan brazenly refused to leave his boat in Tampa Bay with Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall today.
The man, who goes by Joe Sea, spoke from his 20ft boat in Tampa Harbor as strong winds circled overhead.
Joe, in video now circulating widely online, explains that 'God' told him to 'come out here and get a boat'. 'He's got my back. I'm in good shape. I'm not sweating it.'
Joe said he will not be wearing a lifejacket and can swim 'in circles' if needed as he tries to 'stick it out' in the bay.
'The water's going to come in, it's going to rise. If you're on land, it's going to flood. You're risking drowning. I'm in a boat, so the boat goes up with the water... it's really the safest place to be, on my boat.'
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) warned this week that people should not stay onboard or venture out in rough conditions as it risks 'your life and the lives of potential responders'.
Joe, dubbed 'Lt Dan' after the character in Forrest Gump, said he will stay on his boat
Terrence said police had tried to convince him to move on ahead of Milton's arrival
Joe said he will not be wearing a lifejacket and has placed his faith in God to keep him alive
Joe has acquired a following of some 100,000 users on TikTok as he shares his sea-faring journeys as 'Lieutenant Dan, thuggin it out'.
Fans have offered to sponsor him for a motel room or offered shelter in other states.
But Joe remains convinced he is better off at sea.
'Tampa Terrence' has documented Joe's stand against Hurricane Milton and set up a GoFundMe to support him to buy a new ship 'to sail the seas'.
The fundraiser has raised over $17,500 so far.
Terrence also said he had offered Joe to stay in a hotel near Tampa Airport in his most recent video, published late yesterday afternoon, but that he was 'still hesitant on going'.
'God's got my back,' Joe reiterates in another video. 'I'm doing what he told me to do. He didn't send nobody to get me out of here.
'And anybody that tries to get me out of here, they're not of God because God told me that this was right for me and that's why I'm doing it.'
Tampa Police have been among those urging Joe to move on and seek shelter.
Video showed what Terrence claimed was the Chief of Tampa Police telling 'Dan' to leave.
The sailor is told they have 'nine shelters that are open' in video shared yesterday.
He appears to protest, though audio is broken by the wind.
The 'Chief' says 'it'll be tomorrow morning', for Joe to respond 'Well, I'll see you then'.
For now, Lt Dan remains on the 20ft sailing boat, despite offers of shelter elsewhere
GOES-19 captured a high resolution look of Hurricane Milton
Joe continues to upload videos playing with filters and static photos with music overlaid.
Fans offer their best wishes and say they hope he stays safe through the storm.
He has also spoken to reporters about his plans to stick out the storm on his boat.
'The more you go through it, the more you learn,' he told The Weather Channel.
'I'm confident in my ability to ride it out unless it turns into a situation, and I wind up in Kansas.'
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall late on Wednesday, bringing winds of up to 175mph and floods 15ft high in what could be one of the worst storms to hit Florida in over a century.
Milton has 'the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida', according to NHC forecasters.
Millions have already been evacuated from their homes, with large shelters set up in football stadia and venues across the state.
School districts have been closed, businesses shut down and mandatory evacuation orders issued for some six million as weather officials declared the tempest could be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record.
Florida is still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which tore through the state in late September.
By October 6, 227 people were reported to have died from the storm.
Latest satellite picture of Hurricane Milton captured at 7:51 UTC (8:51 UK BST) as it approaches Florida on Wednesday
Members of the Florida Army National Guard check for any remaining residents in nearly-deserted Bradenton Beach on October 8
Hundreds of lineman trucks staged at The Villages, Florida, on Tuesday. Thousands of trucks will be staged and deployed after Hurricane Milton hits Florida. Hurricane Milton 2024
Helene was also the deadliest since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Donald Trump was criticized for spreading misinformation after he accused the government of withholding aid from Republican victims of the hurricane.
Kamala Harris hit back that he was 'extraordinarily irresponsible' for the claims.
FEMA also disputed his claims, warning misinformation was 'extremely damaging' and adding that they believed his claims had deterred some survivors from seeking help.
Trump also said 'Kamala spent all her Fema money—billions of dollars—on housing for illegal migrants' - a claim promptly debunked.
English (US)