A one-legged man from Tampa, Florida, dubbed by the internet as Lieutenant Dan, became a sensation on social media after he defied orders to evacuate, as Hurricane Milton hit the state on October 10, 2024. An update from Lieutenant Dan, who has been named after the iconic character from the movie Forrest Gump, has recently emerged in a clip after the worst of the hurricane passed through the region.
In the clip, which was taken at around 5 am, the man seemed visibly unaffected by the hurricane. He could be heard explaining his situation of being stuck in Tampa Bay through the current Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida in the last week of September 2024. He said:
"I came up here to do grocery shopping. I got my groceries, came back to the boat, started the motor, went to the front, and pulled out my anchor. By the time I got back, the motor stalled and I couldn't get it started again... and I've been stuck here ever since. Then, Helene hit last week and a half ago."
Lieutenant Dan appears safe after Hurricane Milton passes through Tampa Bay, Florida
Lieutenant Dan has shared an update on his situation after he decided to outlast Hurricane Milton as it reached Siesta Key on Florida's central west coast in the form of a Category 3 storm. The Hurricane had made landfall at staggering speeds of 120 mph but slowed down to Category 1 as it made its way across the state.
Lieutenant Dan explained that he usually puts up at the beach by Davis Island. However, after docking in Tampa Bay, he had to survive the storm in his boat, which had a non-functional motor, effectively leaving him stuck within the Bay. Upon being asked about the condition of his motor, he revealed plans to purchase a new boat.
He was previously told by Kick streamer Adin Ross that he would be "able to pay for a boat" ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Ross also offered him a "full-time Kick deal."
Hurricane Milton has also been the topic of discussion within streamer communities. Kick streamer MikeSmallsJR slammed Adin Ross for not fulfilling his apparent promise to pay content creators $70,000 if they streamed through the storm.
MikeSmallsJR had been chasing Hurricane Milton in Florida ever since Adin Ross made the supposed offer, even going as far as to set up an air mattress in a tent in Tampa, where citizens had been advised to evacuate.