Meet Lieutenant Dan AKA Joe Malinowski: Tampa man who refused to leave his boat amidst Hurricane Milton evacuation
A TAMPA man has gone viral on TikTok after he refused to leave his boat during the Hurricane Milton evacuation.
Nicknamed Lieutenant Dan, Joe Malinowski went viral after he decided to stay on his vessel, despite the threat of one of the worst storms of the century.
On October 9, 2024, locals in Tampa were urged to evacuate immediately because of Hurricane Milton.
Florida is being battered by “catastrophic” flooding and 120mph winds as the deadly storm rips through the state.
But one man defied the urgent warning and instead insisted he was going to ride out the storm on his boat.
Joseph Malinowski, known in Tampa as Lieutenant Dan or Joe Sea, has gone viral on TikTok after said he was staying put.
Hurricane Milton threat
Both local and national officials have been pleading with residents to follow evacuation orders, and get to safety immediately.
Authorities warned the force and destruction Hurricane Milton could bring could be catastrophic for many communities that are in the path of the storm.
In just two days the hurricane went from a tropical storm with 40mph winds to a Category 5 storm with gusts said to be over 200mph.
But despite this, Joe said he would not be following evacuation orders and would instead remain on his boat.
Joe speaks out
Speaking from his vessel -which is named Sea Shell – Joe told Sky News: “I’m gonna be fine.
“Plan is to sit down and hunker down.
“I’m gonna be fine. This is a boat. It’s meant to be on water.
“The water’s going to surge, it’s not a tsunami.”
Joe – who claimed to have slept through Hurricane Helene – added: “I have no concerns, God’s got me. I’m gonna hunker down and do my TikTok.”
Going viral
Joe earned his nickname Lieutenant Dan after he went viral on TikTok.
The name references the character from Forrest Gump who famously stayed on his boat during a rough storm.
The viral clip – which was posted by TikTok vlogger Terrence Concannon – has had more than 43m hits.
In the video, Joe can be seen on his boat and heard saying: “My faith in God.
“God told me to come out here and get a boat. I came out here and got a boat.
“He’s been telling me in the last two days I’m doing the right thing.
“He’s got my back. I’m in good shape. We’re gonna ride this one out.”