A Florida man known as ‘Lieutenant Dan’ is refusing to leave his 20ft sailboat as Hurricane Milton barrels towards the Tampa Bay area.
Despite mandatory evacuation orders and critical survival steps issued from officials about the category five storm, Lieutenant Dan insists that his boat is the safest place for him to ride out the storm.
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As the storm approached, a viral video of the determined sailor gained millions of views on TikTok.
Lieutenant Dan, whose real name is Joe, claimed that his boat would “float” even if floodwaters rose to the predicted height of 15 feet. “The boat’s gonna go up with the water, and I’m gonna be just fine,” he said confidently in the video.
Social media user @terrenceconcannon has been documenting Dan’s journey.
He explained that the nickname comes from the Forrest Gump character, as Joe also lost a leg in an accident years ago. Terrence has made several videos with Dan, often pleading with him to leave the boat and find safety on land. However, Dan remains steadfast in his decision.
When asked why he refuses to evacuate, Dan cited divine inspiration.
“God told me to come out here and get a boat. I came out here and got a boat,” he said. “And everything that he’s been telling me over the last two days is I’m doing the right thing. He’s got my back.”
Despite Hurricane Milton’s predicted catastrophic damage, including winds exceeding 157 mph, Dan remains unfazed.
“We’re gonna ride this one out,” he said. “I’m in good shape, I ain’t sweating it.” His defiance seems rooted in his faith, comparing his situation to the biblical story of Noah’s Ark.
There was one particularly memorable exchange. When Terrence asked if he’d be wearing a life jacket, Dan responded:
“Hell no,” he said. He humorously added that he could “swim in circles” with only one leg if necessary. Dan’s sense of humor in the face of danger has only added to his viral fame.
Authorities, however, are not amused.
Tampa Bay’s Mayor Jane Castor issued a dire warning to residents on Monday. “This is the real deal here with Milton. If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100 percent of the time,” she said. Castor went on to stress the seriousness of the storm, warning, “If you don’t evacuate, you are going to die.”
Despite these warnings, Dan has remained steadfast.
He continues to joke that “the only thing” that could make him leave his boat would be the offer of a female companion. “I got room for one more,” he quipped, further cementing his viral persona.
With Hurricane Milton set to hit the west coast of Florida this evening, many anxiously await Dan’s decision.
While most residents have wisely chosen to evacuate, Dan’s defiance in the face of one of Florida’s worst hurricanes in over a century has captivated the internet, making him a reluctant folk hero of sorts.
Many urged him to reconsider his decision to stay on the boat. One user wrote, “I swear if I’m seeing search and rescue missions for Lieutenant Dan in a few days I’m gonna be so upset.”
Another added, “It’s like the guy who’s drowning and refuses a boat — ‘God will save me’—then asks God why He didn’t help him and God says, ‘I sent you a boat???'” Others begged for reassurance: “Tell me he is safe and off the boat and in a hotel at this point, please. Lieutenant Dan has me stressed out.”
As the storm intensifies, only time will tell if Dan’s faith in his boat — and in divine protection — will be enough to see him through.
While many are watching for updates, others are worried about the harsh reality of Hurricane Milton’s destructive power. With evacuation orders in effect and emergency services on high alert, Dan’s decision to stay may soon be put to the ultimate test.
