As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, at least one oil and gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico was shut down on Monday, and Florida ports imposed navigation restrictions on vessels. While much of the energy infrastructure along the U.S. Gulf Coast, including oil and gas production facilities, liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, and refineries, is expected to remain outside the storm's path, terminal closures could temporarily disrupt import and export operations.

Since Saturday, the U.S. Coast Guard has implemented navigation restrictions on vessels at most ports in Florida. The Coast Guard stated that other ports in Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama that handle oil and fuel imports and exports, including Pensacola, Pascagoula, and Mobile, remained open on Monday. According to data from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Florida was the sixth-largest exporter of goods in the U.S. last year. Meteorologists predict that Hurricane Milton could bring a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet (3.05 to 4.57 meters) and winds of 120 to 140 miles per hour to the Florida Gulf Coast, with rainfall potentially exceeding 2 feet, likely near Tampa. On October 7th, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement declaring a state of emergency in Florida and ordered federal assistance. According to Reuters, Florida has ordered mass evacuations in response to the potentially catastrophic winds and rainfall.

Most liquefied natural gas facilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast are far from the storm’s path. However, data from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that the number of ISO container LNG exports from Miami and Fort Lauderdale ports is limited.