Pokémon GO Issues Odd Notification to Florida Player Just Before Hurricane Milton

A Florida Pokémon GO player recently received a surprisingly ill-timed notification from the game, right before Hurricane Milton was set to make landfall. This incident follows a pattern of Pokémon GO sending out alerts during moments when playing the game might be risky or inappropriate.

Pokémon GO encourages its players to explore their surroundings while they catch Pokémon. While it's generally a great way for fans to get outdoors for some fresh air and exercise, there are situations where playing is not advisable. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pokémon GO had to modify its gameplay to ensure that players stayed safe while still engaging with the game.

Team GO Rocket Targets Florida Amid Hurricane Milton Evacuation

Florida resident and Pokémon GO player, Rozgarden, shared a screenshot that captured two notifications they received on their phone: one warning them about the arrival of Hurricane Milton within 18 hours, and another notifying them that Team GO Rocket was staging a takeover in their area.

In their post, Rozgarden humorously speculated on Team GO Rocket’s strategy, suggesting that the invasion might be a clever move since most players would be preoccupied with preparing for the hurricane. On the flip side, they noted that deploying Team GO Rocket grunts during a severe weather event might not be the smartest decision either.

The Real-World Risk of Pokémon GO Alerts During Natural Disasters

Beyond the in-game scenario, the timing of this notification was unfortunate. In recent instances, players have shared similar stories of receiving Pokémon GO alerts urging them to head outside to catch specific Pokémon even during severe weather conditions like tornado warnings. Clearly, it’s not wise to venture outdoors to play a game when there's a real threat to personal safety. It appears that Pokémon GO currently lacks a system to automatically disable these notifications when severe weather advisories from the National Weather Service are active.

The game often reminds its trainers to stay mindful of their surroundings and prioritize their safety over catching Pokémon. Fortunately, a Team GO Rocket takeover is generally less tempting to players than the appearance of a rare Pokémon. Hopefully, those who decided to face Team GO Rocket in Florida did so only while moving toward safer locations.