In Florida, a man known as “Lieutenant Dan” on TikTok has ultimately decided to evacuate his small sailboat in Tampa Harbor before the approaching Hurricane Milton strikes. Even with repeated alerts from local Tampa authorities and assurances from the mayor that he was safe in a shelter, Lieutenant Dan initially refused to leave his boat, firmly believing it would endure the severe weather.
The man dubbed “Lieutenant Dan,” real name Joseph Malinowski, is an amputee who derives his nickname from a character in the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump.” He had planned to remain on his twenty-foot sailboat during the hurricane, trusting it would hold up against the storm due to his faith. Malinowski has stated that it was divine guidance that led him to purchase the boat, and this faith made him confident of divine protection through the storm.
In multiple video posts, he cited the biblical narrative of Noah’s Ark, claiming that, similar to how Noah and his family were saved on a boat, he would be spared from the hurricane. Nonetheless, the looming threat of a Category 4 hurricane intensified worry among officials and the public over his safety.
The Tampa police had repeatedly informed Lieutenant Dan that he would be evacuated forcefully should he choose not to leave on his own accord. In a widely viewed video message, Tampa PD Chief Lee Bercaw warned that police would return the next day to evacuate him forcibly. Yet, Lieutenant Dan remained unyielded, proclaiming he would be there to meet them.
Fortunately, Lieutenant Dan has now told the authorities he will leave the boat. This decision comes just as Hurricane Milton is anticipated to hit land late Wednesday night or early Thursday, threatening severe wind damage and flooding.
This incident comes on the heels of the catastrophic Hurricane Helene, which claimed the lives of at least 227 individuals and displaced thousands across the Southeastern U.S., underscoring the stark reality and severity of such natural disasters.
Lieutenant Dan’s change of heart highlights the broader challenges that emergency personnel face in ensuring public safety during disasters and underscores the critical nature of adhering to evacuation advisories.
