By Alex Lang New York (Knewz) — The message for residents of most of Florida is clear: leave now. With Hurricane Ian strengthening and growing in the Gulf of Mexico, officials in Florida are telling residents to evacuate. The storm is now projected to be a Category 2 or 3 storm and hit central Florida on Thursday morning. Tides, wind and rain could start in a matter of hours. The storm is the first possible major hurricane to make a direct hit to the Tampa Bay area in decades. “For all practical purposes, get out right now,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gulatieri said at a press conference stre…