Tampa Mayor Jane Castor shared good news at a press conference on Wednesday.
“The Tampa Police Department saved Lieutenant Dan this morning. He has been rescued and is now safe in a shelter. If we can get Lieutenant Dan to go to a shelter, we can get anyone to go.”
Earlier, time was running out for Florida residents as Hurricane Milton headed for the Gulf Coast. While many evacuated, some stayed behind by choice or necessity.
One man, known as “Lieutenant Dan,” caught attention online for refusing to leave his 20-foot boat anchored in Tampa Bay.
“The water will rise, but I’m in a boat, so it goes up with the water. It’s really the safest place to be,” said the man, known as Joe Sea.
A TikToker, called Tampa Terrence, has followed Lieutenant Dan since he stayed on his boat during Hurricane Helene in late September. But now, fans are worried about his safety as Hurricane Milton is much stronger.
In several videos, Terrence tried to convince Lieutenant Dan to leave his boat and find shelter, but Joe refused. His boat was all he had, and he wanted to protect it from the storm.
Local police also visited him and gave him information about shelters, but nothing changed his mind. Even The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore couldn’t persuade him.
“I know God didn’t bring me this far for something to happen to me,” Lieutenant Dan told Cantore.
After surviving Hurricane Helene, he felt confident. “Unless this turns into a Wizard of Oz situation and I wind up in Kansas, I’ll be fine.”
As of October 8, Lieutenant Dan had decided to stay on his boat.
Many were concerned, hoping he would change his mind and seek shelter at the last moment. Luckily, the authorities were able to rescue him just in time.