Travel agent warns 'days of chaos ahead' for Scots in Florida in wake of Hurricane Milton

A travel agent has warned there could be “days of chaos ahead” for Scots currently in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Milton.

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Thursday evening, bringing tornadoes and causing an unknown number of deaths.

Emergency services in a number of counties across Florida were forced to suspend operations until it was safe for workers to be on the ground.

More than three million homes and businesses were left without power in Florida due to the storm.

As a result, thousands of UK holidaymakers had their flights to and from Florida disrupted. It is expected that flights will take days to resume to normal.

Linda Hill Miller, owner and founder of LAH Travel in West Kilbride and Kilmarnock, warned customers to expect more “chaos” in the coming days.

“It’s obviously really concerns what we’re seeing on the media, we have touched base with any clients that are impacted and they’re all safe,” she said.

“This is October school holidays as well, so in many ways it’s the worst possible time it could’ve happened.”

The travel agent added they have rearranged travel plans for customers due to travel to Florida this weekend, while other clients are still out at sea on cruise ships.

“I know of clients on a cruise that is supposed to be arriving in to Florida and the shipping companies have made the decision to stay out at sea which is the safest place to be in a hurricane cause they can sail away from the danger,” she said.

Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, but was later downgraded to a Category 1 storm.

A number of people were killed as tornadoes were whipped up due to the storm, and homes have been destroyed. High levels of water have been expected due to heavy rainfall and water whipped up by the strong winds.

While the storm has now passed into the Atlantic, the clean up operation now begins – and Scots will be wondering where they stand with their long-anticipated breaks.

Ms Miller said she was waiting on confirmation but is “hoping” flights will resume on Friday but warned that more days of disruption likely lie ahead.

“The people that are actually in Florida, their flights have been cancelled, so they will stay in their hotels they are already in and their flight will hopefully go 24 hours later, that’s the plan but really what the message is it’s pretty chaotic,” she said.

“When flights get cancelled, airports don’t cope that well with it, so there’s going to be a few days of chaos ahead I’m afraid.”

As for future holidays, Ms Miller said climate change will play a part in the type of holidays people are able to have.

“It’s not just hurricane season, we’re finding all across Europe for example, its been hotter than it normally is,” she added.

“I do think climate change is playing a part in it and It’s something that’s not going to go away.”