Floridians Pose for Selfies Despite the Danger of Hurricane Milton

Oct 09, 2024

Matt Growcoot

A split image shows people posing near the Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West, Florida, as waves crash over the seawall. The buoy is black, red, and yellow with white text indicating the southernmost point of the continental U.S. — People posing next to the Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West, Florida this morning even as a tropical storm caused by Hurricane Milton rages around them.

As Hurricane Milton bares down, most Florida residents are busy fortifying their homes, planning their escape, or just praying that the storm passes without harm. But some are using it as a selfie opportunity.

A live camera feed looking at the Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West — a tourist attraction that claims to be the southernmost point in the continental U.S. — showed dozens of people taking photos despite the imminent danger.

Viewers of the live stream couldn’t believe their eyes as a shirtless man appeared wearing Stars and Stripes shorts to pose for a photo with his girlfriend.

“Risking their lives for taking pictures, wow!” Wrote one exacerbated viewer. “Pictures for memories when they drown maybe,” another person sarcastically commented.

Two people stand near the southernmost point buoy in Key West, Florida, amidst stormy weather. One person touches the buoy while the other takes a picture. The ocean waves crash nearby under a cloudy sky.

A seaside view in Key West, FL, showing the Southernmost Point buoy, surrounded by waves. Two people stand nearby, one taking a photo of the other amidst misty weather. A palm tree is partially visible on the left.

Two people stand near the Southernmost Point buoy in Key West, Florida, during a storm. The ocean waves crash over the barrier. One person is taking a photo. The scene appears overcast and windy.

People stand near a buoy during windy, rainy weather in Key West, FL. Waves crash over the seawall and a palm tree is visible on the left. The atmosphere appears stormy, with water spraying around.

A stormy ocean scene in Key West, FL, with people standing near the Southernmost Point buoy. Water waves splash over the barrier onto the viewing area, and one person is posing with arms raised next to the buoy. Cloudy sky and rough seas in the background.

People stand at the Southernmost Point buoy in Key West, Florida, surrounded by rising ocean waves. The water covers parts of the walkway, and the sky appears overcast.

One couple arrived at the buoy and waved at the live camera, enraging the comments further.

It must be said that Key West is not expected to get the worst of Hurricane Milton; the center is expected to land at Tampa Bay but that can change in the blink of an eye.

A group of people stands near the Southernmost Point buoy in Key West, Florida, as waves crash over the seawall. The ocean is rough and the sky is overcast, indicating stormy weather.

A person stands near the Southernmost Point marker in Key West, Florida, during a storm. The ocean is rough, and waves are crashing over the barrier onto the wet pavement. Overcast skies dominate the background as palm trees sway in the wind.

A blurry photo of the Southernmost Point buoy in Key West, Florida, during heavy rain. Two people stand near the buoy, with strong waves crashing in the background. A palm tree is visible on the left side.

A person stands barefoot on a wet promenade near the large Southernmost Point buoy in Key West, Florida, as waves crash over the seawall. The sky is overcast, and the area looks stormy.

CBS reports that the port in Key West is closed so are schools and government offices. Storm surges could be an issue in the Keys.

Landfall is expected late Wednesday or the early hours of Thursday when it is forecast to bring flash flooding, storm surges of up to 15 feet, and powerful winds that will tear apart homes and rip trees from their roots.

The category 4 hurricane could bring widespread destruction to Florida which has avoided direct hits for more than a century, according to the Associated Press.

A couple stands by the Southernmost Point buoy in Key West, Florida, as waves crash over the seawall. The weather appears stormy with whitecaps visible in the ocean. Palm tree leaves partially frame the left side of the image.

A blurry view of the Southernmost Point buoy in Key West, Florida. The concrete buoy is painted with bright colors and text, indicating the geographical marker. People stand nearby on a wet, windy day with rough seas in the background.

A person stands near the Southernmost Point buoy in Key West, Florida, during rough sea conditions. Waves crash over the seawall, and water floods the area. A palm tree is partially visible on the left.

Eleven Florida counties, home to approximately six million people, are under mandatory evacuation. The Florida Keys is not one of them instead it is under a tropical storm warning.

Milton is forecast to cross central Florida and dump as much as 18 inches (46 centimeters) of rain as it heads toward the Atlantic Ocean. If that path is correct then it would largely spare other states ravaged by Helene, which killed at least 230 people on its path from Florida to the Carolinas.