Heartbroken Bindi Irwin’s fears for her American in-laws in Florida as they get caught up in Hurricane Milton

Bindi Irwin has shared her heartbreak as her family and friends prepare for Hurricane Milton in her husband Chandler Powell’s native Florida. 

Hurricane Milton is making landfall on the west coast of the US state, with winds on land already reported at over 120 miles per hour and several inches of rain fallen and a ‘catastrophic’ flooding situation developing in Tampa Bay.

More than one million people in the region, where the Australian Wildlife Warrior’s beloved in-laws live, have lost power in the eye of the storm. 

Bindi shared a photo of Tampa during a gorgeous sunset from her last trip to the United States on Thursday, as the world watches and waits for news of the impending catastrophe.    

‘Our family, friends and everyone who will be enduring Hurricane Milton, know how much we love you and how deeply our hearts break as you prepare for this devastating storm,’ she wrote. 

Bindi and her American husband Chandler currently live in Queensland but often travel to Florida to spend time with his parents, Chris and Shannan, and his large extended family. 

The pair first met in November 2013 when former professional wakeboarder Chandler and his family visited the Australia Zoo while in town for a championship. 

He ended up on a tour being given by the Irwin family, and the two hit it off instantly. 

Bindi Irwin has shared her heartbreak as her family and friends prepare for Hurricane Milton in her husband Chandler Powell’s native Tampa, Florida

‘Our family, friends and everyone who will be enduring Hurricane Milton, know how much we love you and how deeply our hearts break as you prepare for this devastating storm,’ Bindi Irwin wrote

Chandler was born in Seffner, Florida, and his parents live just outside of Tampa, and also have another son, Cameron, who is married to wife Kristin.

The storm is bringing rain and high winds at the Tampa Bay on its steady and potentially catastrophic march toward the west coast of Florida, where officials sounded urgent warnings for residents to evacuate. 

As thousands of evacuees clogged highways, contended with fuel shortages and flight cancellations on Tuesday (AEDT), the mayor of Tampa warned residents bluntly that if they chose to stay: ‘You are going to die.’ 

The greatest danger is posed by the wall of water, known as a storm surge, that Milton will whip up. Initially feared to be 4.57 metres tall (fifteen feet), forecasters now believe the storm surge will be a still record-breaking 3.6 metres (12 feet) in height.

The entire Irwin clan jetted off the the U.S to around this time last year to celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S.

The National Weather Prediction Service declared a Flash Flood Warning with ‘considerable threats to life and property’ for much of the Tampa area, where Shannan and Chris live, until 10.45pm local time.  

Terri and Robert Irwin travelled with Bindi and Chandler to unite both sides of the family. 

The entire Irwin clan jetted off the the U.S to around this time last year to celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S

Chandler Powell was born in Seffner, Florida, and his parents Chris and Shannan (pictured with granddaughter Grace) live just outside of Tampa, and also have another son, Cameron, who is married to wife Kristin

The crew spent a day at Walt Disney World where they all posed for a photo in front of the park’s famous Cinderella castle.

‘Visiting Chandler’s incredible family for Thanksgiving and spending time in the most magical place together,’ Bindi captioned her photo. ‘Cherishing these memories forever.’ 

At the time, Women’s Day magazine spoke to an insider who claimed Florida was definitely ‘on the table’ for the high-profile couple. 

‘[Florida] is where [Chandler’s] family are and he misses it. He gave up everything to be with Bindi,’ the source said.

The source close to the family also claimed that Bindi was ‘craving a change of scenery and a slower pace’ and that with brother Robert Irwin stepping up to the plate at Australia Zoo, the timing was right. 

Bindi and Chandler Irwin are extremely close to his family and often travel from their home in Queensland, Australia to Florida in the US to spend time with them

Chris and Shannan flew from Florida to Australia in 2021 to meet their granddaughter Grace (pictured)  for the first time

Chris and Shannan flew from Florida to Australia in 2021 to meet their granddaughter for the first time. 

The meeting coincided with Grace’s first birthday on March 25. 

‘Happy 1st Birthday sweet Grace! And Happy 2nd Anniversary Bindi and Chandler! Love you three so much,’ her grandfather Chris penned in an a heartfelt post on Instagram. 

‘The last three weeks have been such a blessing spending time with you.’

Bindi and Chandler tied the knot on March 25, 2020, before welcoming their daughter exactly one year later on their wedding anniversary. 

They made the ‘difficult decision’ to host their wedding without any guests due to Covid restrictions, meaning Chandler’s parents did not attend.

However, Chandler’s parents ‘fully supported’ their decision to ‘just get married’. 

At the time, Bindi threw a party for her mother-in-law, Shannan, at Australia Zoo

In gushing Instagram posts made on her mother-in-law’s birthday, the young conservationist has said she’s ‘thankful for [her] friendship’ with them and is ‘in awe’ of Shannan.

‘Happy Birthdays to my beautiful mum-in-law and dad-in-law. Shannan & Chris, I love you both very much and feel so lucky to have you in my life,’ she wrote earlier this year.

Shortly after Grace’s birth, she also spoke about her ‘dream’ for her daughter to live in America. 

‘When our beautiful daughter was born, I decided I wanted to take her on a big adventure. Since my husband is from Florida and my mum is from Oregon, I want our girl to experience as much of the United States wilderness as possible,’ Bindi wrote. 

‘My dream is to take her to every USA National Park before she’s 18. If you have advice, please share. I can’t wait to make this dream a reality…’

In gushing Instagram post, the young conservationist has said she’s ‘thankful for [her] friendship’ with her in-laws and ‘in awe’ of Shannan.