Simply because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wrapped up the primary of three practices this week at Tulane College in New Orleans, the place they evacuated to prematurely of Hurricane Milton, situations some 685 miles again dwelling started to quickly deteriorate Wednesday.
The world is seeing its first direct hit from a significant hurricane since 1921, and that wasn’t misplaced on gamers and coaches.
“Numerous prayer, a number of prayer,” quarterback Baker Mayfield mentioned in a video name with reporters.
Added vast receiver Mike Evans: “We’re not even simply enjoying for simply soccer now. We’re making an attempt to play for one thing somewhat bit larger.”
Ten days in the past, Hurricane Helene swiped the Florida Gulf Coast as a Class 4 storm, forcing Mayfield and others dwelling in coastal areas to evacuate. The worst of the impression was felt in Florida’s Large Bend area, some 200 miles north of Tampa, nevertheless it nonetheless left piles of damaged furnishings and different particles in locations equivalent to Pinellas and Manatee counties.
A lot of that particles remained roadside Wednesday as Milton neared landfall and ready to slice by way of one of the vital densely populated areas of the state as a Class 3 storm — someplace between the mouth of Tampa Bay and Siesta Key, the place some 3 million individuals name dwelling.
“I simply need all people to be protected,” mentioned Evans, who evacuated along with his spouse and household. “On the finish of the day, we clearly have a job to do, so we’ll do this. The video games are going to be performed, however that is the toughest factor — simply ensuring that everyone is nice and simply praying and hoping for one of the best. So that is the hardest half, however I simply attempt to keep locked in. I acquired to be prepared.”
Like Evans, cornerback Zyon McCollum grew up in Galveston, Texas, and is not any stranger to hurricanes. He pleaded with residents to heed evacuation orders. Some areas had been anticipated to see winds as much as 120 mph when the storm made landfall at round 9 p.m. ET, whereas as much as 12 ft of storm surge was anticipated, in line with the Nationwide Hurricane Middle.
“Mom Nature will not be one to be performed with,” McCollum mentioned. “The flooding will in all probability be the most important factor that I have been making an attempt to inform individuals. It is not essentially the rain and the whole lot itself, however the surge is what’s an important. So simply ensuring that everyone’s households are in the proper place. In case you’re in an evacuation zone, please, please, please evacuate.”
Mayfield mentioned he has been doing his greatest to compartmentalize, having carried out the whole lot he might to make sure his household’s security with one other evacuation, and to safe their household’s dwelling. Simply final week, earlier than an extra time heartbreaker in Atlanta on Thursday night time, he and Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins got here collectively to donate $100,000 to Helene aid efforts. Now he’ll return to a neighborhood in want of much more assist.
“This may very well be a kind of Sunday to provide the individuals of Florida, particularly round our space, some hope and one thing to sit up for watching,” Mayfield mentioned earlier than rapidly correcting himself, as many will not be capable to watch. “You realize, [I’m] not anticipating anybody to essentially have energy, however discovering out within the days later.”
Coach Todd Bowles mentioned the workforce is researching contingency choices ought to Tampa be unsafe to journey to after Sunday’s recreation. The Bucs are set to host the Ravens on Oct. 21.
“We’re speaking about it,” Bowles mentioned. “We hope we do not have to, [but] we’ll see what occurs the following couple of days after which we’ll regulate accordingly.”
