Hurricane Milton updates: 16 dead across Florida in storm's aftermath

Fifty-one out of Florida’s 67 counties are under a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Milton, which has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday urged residents in evacuation zones -- particularly in Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties -- to evacuate now.

"The roads are flowing and shelters have space. There’s still time," he said.

About 31,000 people stayed in shelters across Florida Tuesday night and the shelters can accommodate over 200,000 people, according to Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

"If you think it’s too late, there is room," Guthrie said. "Your home can be replaced, but you cannot."

DeSantis announced the largest staging of utility workers in U.S. history, with over 50,000 linemen ready to restore power as soon as the storm passes.

-ABC News’ Jason Volack

Vice President Kamala Harris released a stern warning against engaging in price gouging and fraud in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton.

"Those evacuating before Hurricane Milton or recovering from Hurricane Helene should not be subject to illegal price gouging or fraud -- at the pump, airport, or hotel counter," Harris said in a statement. "Any company or individual that tries to exploit Americans in an emergency should know that the Administration is monitoring for allegations of fraud and price gouging and will hold those taking advantage of the situation accountable."

-ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart

In Pinellas County, which encompasses Clearwater and St. Petersburg on Florida's west coast, residents "are running out of time" to evacuate, county communications director Barbra Hernandez said Wednesday.

"Our goal is to reduce the loss of life. Please get yourself out of harm’s way now," she said. "We don’t want to be plucking people out of the water."

"This will be a knockout," county emergency management director Cathie Perkins added. "Buildings, homes, wiped off foundations. That is unsurvivable."

Mandatory evacuations have been issued in parts of the county. By dusk on Wednesday, all bridges off the peninsula will be closed and first responders will be pulled off the roads due to flooding and high winds, Perkins said.

"You’ll be on your own after that," she warned.

-ABC News’ Jason Volack

Milton could be "like nothing they have seen before," FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell warned on ABC News' "Good Morning America."

"While you can ride out a storm and hide from the wind, you need to move away from the water," she said.

"The water is what kills people," Criswell said. "Nobody has to die from this storm. They just need to move out of the evacuation zone area into a place that is going to be safe from the storm surge."

Click here to read more.