“If you stop, you die” • The Skelleftet girls are caught in the massive tornado

Skellefte's daughter, Ellen Mound, moved to Florida in the USA in 2021 to study at university and play football for Kelser University, where she has played ever since. She is now with her friend from Skellefteå Julia Forslund, in the middle of one of the areas of Florida expected to be hardest hit by Hurricane Milton.

Just over a week ago, Hurricane Helen struck Florida and several other states, when more than 200 people died. Helen's winds are rated as a four on a five-point scale.

Hurricane Milton is now classified as a Category 5 hurricane, a higher level than Hurricane Helen, and according to the National Hurricane Center, Milton's winds are expected to reach 257 kilometers per hour with currents as high as three in some places along the Florida coast.

The Washington Post It quoted local meteorologists who, among other things, provided the ominous quote: “If Milton continues on its path, it will be the strongest tornado to hit Tampa in more than 100 years. No one in this area has ever seen a tornado this powerful.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in one of them: A letter to the residents That: “There has never been a hurricane like this before. Helen was a wake-up call, and this is a disaster. If you stay in the evacuation zone, you will die.”

As a result of all the expectations pointing to the disaster, US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in several states around Florida. For Ellen and Julia, who are in West Palm Beach, which has not yet been designated an evacuation area, the effects of the storm are already beginning to be felt.

That's what Elin said when Noran called her by phone at noon, Swedish time, on Wednesday.

– It's always hot in Florida, but now when you go outside you feel like there's something completely different in the air, it's cooler and colder air, she says and continues:

-It's been very rainy and windy for the past 24 hours, then it was quite calm yesterday, but today it feels like it's on its way. The situation will be more severe here tonight and tomorrow, she said on Wednesday.

According to forecasts, the city and the area surrounding Tampa are expected to be the most affected by Storm Milton. West Palm Beach, where Ellen and Julia are now, is on the other side of Florida, and according to forecasts available Wednesday evening, the area around them is expected to be hit by the storm as it begins to weaken slightly.

– But even if it doesn't hit West Palm Beach directly, we're getting a lot of super effects from it, so we expect to be hit hard. We now get a lot of notifications on the phone, saying that you should be safe and so on. Eileen says there are many people at the school who have dropped out to go home.

Here and now, the Skilift girls are told they must stay on school grounds, where they also live. Until further notice from the school, students should remain indoors, but if the storm is stronger than expected, students will be evacuated to a building on school grounds built to withstand storms as strong as Milton.

How would you describe the mood where you are now?

-The situation is a bit unstable at the moment and uncomfortable. There is now a little calm before the storm, and preparation for what is to come. Prepare for the coming storm. We bought some extra water and are charging the mobile phone, says Eileen.

Was there a need to evacuate West Palm Beach?

– For now, we should probably stay in the school because we haven't reached an area that needs to be evacuated yet, but we've been told that it should be safe to stay in the school and there is a building here that should be able to accommodate everyone who lives in the school.

How afraid are you?

-It's unpleasant, you feel so small when this kind of thing happens. Especially when you're so far away from home, but of course I'm very afraid because you never know how big an impact it can have. When it comes to the weather, you don't really have any control.

Before the storm, Eileen and Julia stocked up on plenty of water and snacks and then the school will be responsible for the food for as long as possible, meaning they don't have to store food themselves.

Eileen says shopping and visiting local stores gave them a scary feeling:

– When you go to grocery stores now, the shelves are empty, because everyone has stocked up on everything they need. She concluded that it was like a terrible feeling when all the stores ran out of water and goods.