Terrifying video captures alligator emerging from flooded street and attack car tire amid Hurricane Milton

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA: A chilling video has taken the Internet by storm, showing an alligator trying to bite the tire of a terrified car owner, on Wednessday, October 9. Hurricane Milton has not only disrupted millions of lives but also brought unwelcome scaly visitors into people's homes, turning daily life into a nightmare. 

This unsettling encounter follows a recent incident where a Florida couple was surprised to find an alligator lounging in their waterlogged home amid Hurricane Helene. As these storms wreak havoc, the presence of these unexpected reptilian guests adds a whole new level of danger in the aftermath

Florida man's frightening encounter with alligator

The Florida man had the frightening encounter with the alligator while sitting in his car on Wednesday night, as the creature emerged from the floodwaters left by Hurricane Milton.

In the chilling video, the man is seen looking out of his car window when he spots the alligator chewing on his tire, prompting him to quickly retreat back inside the vehicle. He then yells, "That was a big f**king alligator that just bit our tire!" The darkness of the night and the deep floodwaters added to the intensity of the situation, as the gator was barely visible.

Experts warn that apex predators like alligators pose a significant risk during floods, which can carry them long distances, potentially placing them right at someone's doorstep. This warning came just hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall, with wildlife specialists urging residents to be vigilant about the dangers posed by displaced animals. 

Christopher Gillette, who runs an animal sanctuary in Putnam County, took to Instagram to alert locals about the likelihood of encountering dangerous wildlife as the storm approached. As he prepared his sanctuary at Bellowing Acres, he advised followers to be cautious of animals trying to survive the harsh conditions. 

"There will be lots of disturbed animals on the move, they're trying to survive the storm too," he posted, also highlighting the particular threat posed by alligators, which can hold their breath for up to six hours, according to reports.

Hurricane Milton causes devastating floods across Florida

Hurricane Milton, a historic Category 3 storm, has caused devastating flooding across Florida, forcing residents to seek shelter from the life-threatening 120 mph winds battering the state, as per Mirror. 

The storm's eye made a direct landfall in Tampa Bay, marking the first major hurricane to hit the area in over a century, leaving more than two million homes and businesses without power. Over 125 homes and a significant sheriff's facility in St Lucie County were destroyed. 

In a stark warning before the hurricane's arrival, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor stressed the importance of adhering to mandatory evacuation orders, declaring that those who chose to remain would face certain death as their homes could become "coffins." Milton had previously escalated to a terrifying Category 5 hurricane, with winds reaching a maximum of 160 mph. 

"I can say without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you're going to die," Mayor Castor warned during an interview. 

The storm has claimed the lives of at least four individuals in St Lucie County and left three dead in Volusia County, while authorities in St Petersburg reported two additional fatalities. Parts of Sarasota, Fort Myers, Venice, and other Gulf Coast cities experienced dangerous 10-foot floods, and tornadoes struck areas opposite to where Milton initially made landfall, destroying buildings, vehicles, and trees.