ST. CLOUD, Fla. — Osceola County leaders say Hurricane Milton will have a “significant impact.”

Officials are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, and urging residents to continue to prepare in the final days before Hurricane Milton hits. 

In response, Frank Bonavoglia installed his steel shutters in his St. Cloud home. He was nailing down his to-do list before Hurricane Milton arrives in Florida.

“If there’s something that comes through the windows, I’m OK,” said Bonavoglia.

He was a steelworker, but retired and has lived in the same St. Cloud home for eight years.

He’s experienced hurricanes several times and says his front yard and porch are prone to widespread flooding.

As part of hurricane preparations, he doesn’t plan on buying a generator, but he’s buying plenty of water.

“I’m going to get some, in case we lose power,” he said.

On Monday morning, Osceola County’s’ emergency management director urged residents to not let their guard down with Hurricane Milton. 

 “This is a unique one for us. We have not seen something like this since [Hurricane] Charley, especially from a western approach,” said Bill Litton, Osceola County Emergency Management Director.

Leaders said items outside homes can become projectiles, so securing them is important. 

Low-lying areas or manufactured homes will also be prone to flooding. 

“We ask that you finalize your preparations and do it now. Don’t take this for granted. Use common sense and stay safe,” said City of St. Cloud Mayor Nathan Blackwell. “You’re in our prayers.”

Blackwell says the city is preparing for heavy rainfall. 

“We have pumps that already deployed at lakefront and at Blackberry creek and a request that has been made to allow us to lower the water levels in our lakefront ponds before the storm arrives,” said Blackwell.

Blackwell says they’re currently at four feet below the flood elevation on each lake, so there’s capacity for what may be coming. 

Officials say it’s important to check on your neighbors and to be ready to evacuate.

At this point, there are no evacuations in effect for Osceola County.

County leaders say it’s critical to have an evacuation plan ready if residents live in a flood-prone zone.