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

Ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall Wednesday night, the Sarasota Police Department said its last patrol vehicle has returned to headquarters.

"Sustained wind speeds are too strong for emergency services to respond," the department wrote in a statement on X. "We will now wait out the storm, just like you, and once it passes, we will begin our rescue and recovery process."

In a follow-up post, Sarasota officials said emergency services are "grounded."

"You need to shelter in place. If you need help, we cannot respond. Please do not venture out and put your life in danger," the department said.

During an address Wednesday, President Joe Biden spoke of the incoming threat of Hurricane Milton, which is forecast to hit Florida's west coast as a Category 3 storm.

"I urge everyone in Hurricane Milton's past to listen to local officials and follow all the safety instructions they give," Biden said.

"At this point, evacuation is probably difficult, so I encourage people to look for safer shelter, sometimes moving just a few miles can mean the difference between life and death," Biden added.

Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other officials discussed the ongoing federal efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene and prepare for Milton.

"So, my final message tonight is to the people of Florida and all the impacted states, we've got your back. We've got your back. And Kamala and I will be there for as long as it takes to rescue, recover, and rebuild."

-ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler

Hours before Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall, Florida officials are urging residents to remain inside.

"NOW is the time to stay indoors and avoid traveling -- weather conditions will be dangerous across the state well into Thursday," the state’s Department of Transportation said in a post on X Wednesday evening.

Hillborough County officials said it has become too dangerous even to transport people to shelters.

Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who spearheaded the U.S. Army's Hurricane Katrina response in 2005, joined ABC News Live Wednesday to discuss Florida's preparations for Hurricane Milton.

"The state of Florida has some of the most well-trained, well-organized emergency response teams in the country for planning and preparedness," Honoré said.

"And what the state and federal government have done in pre-positioning, they've leaned forward. We've got a lot more preparedness on this storm than we had on the last one is all I can say," he added of Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida late last month.

"Everybody has tried to do the best they can to get people out of the way," Honoré said.