Florida is once again grappling with the aftermath of a powerful hurricane as residents assess the widespread destruction left by Hurricane Milton. The storm, which made landfall late Wednesday, tore through coastal communities, unleashing a wave of tornadoes, heavy rain, and flooding that claimed the lives of at least five people. The impact of Milton comes less than two weeks after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, compounding the misery for many residents.
Hurricane Milton struck Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa, as a Category 3 storm, packing winds strong enough to topple trees, rip off roofs, and cut off power to more than 3 million homes and businesses. Governor Ron DeSantis described the situation as severe but noted that it was not the "worst-case scenario" many had feared. "We will better understand the extent of the damage as the day progresses," DeSantis said. "We've got more to do, but we will absolutely get through this."
Despite causing significant damage, Milton spared Tampa from a direct hit and avoided the catastrophic storm surge that had been predicted. The worst storm surge appeared in Sarasota County, reaching heights of 8 to 10 feet. In some areas, rainfall totals reached up to 18 inches, prompting local officials to issue warnings about potential flash flooding in the coming days.
In Palmetto, south of Tampa, residents like Natasha Shannon were left counting their blessings even as they faced the destruction of their homes. "I said, 'Baby, we got to go. Because we're not going to survive this,'" she recounted, describing her decision to evacuate with her family. They returned to find their home's tin roof peeled off and their possessions soaked in rainwater. "It ain't much but it was ours," Shannon said. "What little bit we did have is gone."
Dude gets caught inside hurricane Milton in his car
SCARY#Milton #HurricanMilton #Florida #HurricaneMilton pic.twitter.com/ZOI348PBTB — DLG (@SelectaDG) October 10, 2024
The city of Plant City, located just inland from Tampa, experienced catastrophic flooding. City Manager Bill McDaniel called the flooding "absolutely staggering," noting that emergency crews had rescued 35 residents overnight. "We have flooding in places and to levels that I've never seen, and I've lived in this community my entire life," McDaniel said.
The storm's powerful winds also wreaked havoc in Matlacha, a small barrier island off Fort Myers, where tornadoes and surges devastated the community. Residents like Tom Reynolds, 90, spent the morning cleaning up after his home sustained heavy damage. "What else am I going to do?" Reynolds said as he swept out four feet of mud and water from his home.
In St. Lucie County, the tornadoes proved deadly, killing five people in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village. The National Weather Service reported a record-breaking 126 tornado warnings issued across Florida as the storm approached, with at least 19 confirmed tornadoes touching down before Milton made landfall.
Across the state, power outages were widespread. More than 3.4 million homes and businesses were without electricity on Thursday, according to poweroutage.us. The impact extended to transportation hubs as well, with several Florida airports, including Tampa International and Orlando International, suspending or modifying flight operations due to storm damage.
As residents in the hardest-hit areas like Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Lee counties began the arduous task of recovery, officials urged caution. "We'll let you know when it's safe to come out," Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, emphasizing the dangers of downed power lines and flooding.
Emergency services have been working tirelessly to respond to the disaster. Florida's State Guard conducted more than 40 rescues overnight, while first responders in Tampa rescued 15 people from a home crushed by a fallen tree. State officials continue to focus on search-and-rescue efforts, with crews expected to go door-to-door in affected areas.
Hurricane Milton's impact comes as Florida is still reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which left at least 230 dead across the South. The compounded damage has stretched emergency services and recovery efforts to their limits, leaving many Floridians in a precarious situation as they face another round of cleanup and rebuilding.