Hurricane Milton has claimed at least 14 lives in Florida and caused significant destruction across the state. Officials in affected areas have advised residents to remain cautious of downed power lines, blocked bridges, fallen trees, and continuing flooding. Governor Ron DeSantis indicated that the death toll might rise as search-and-rescue operations are still ongoing.
The hurricane, which hit just two weeks after Hurricane Helene, left more than 3 million homes and businesses without power. It resulted in widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and numerous rescues. Southern Florida had already endured heavy rainfall and tornadoes before Milton's landfall.
Rescue teams have saved over 340 people and 49 pets. In Tampa, police found a woman in her 70s dead under a fallen tree branch. Sarasota and Anna Maria Island communities are evaluating the damage, with recovery efforts continuing statewide.
One dramatic rescue involved Hillsborough County officers saving a 14-year-old boy found floating on a piece of fencing. A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man holding onto an ice chest after his fishing boat was caught in the storm. The National Weather Service reported nearly 19 inches of rain in St. Petersburg, with severe flooding in Plant City.
Tampa avoided a direct hit and a major storm surge, but the hurricane, a Category 3 upon landfall in Siesta Key, caused widespread damage. In St. Petersburg, a crane on a 46-story building collapsed, and a water main break led to a service shutdown. Tropicana Field's roof, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, was also damaged.
Governor DeSantis commended Floridians' strength, stating, “You face two hurricanes in a couple of weeks — not easy to go through — but I’ve seen a lot of resilience throughout this state.” He expressed optimism about Florida's recovery.
Milton came ashore Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key, a barrier island of white sand beaches about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of the Tampa Bay area.
While the Tampa Bay area, home to over 3.3 million people, was spared a direct hit, there was still flooding and damage.
By Thursday afternoon, Milton had moved off Florida's east coast and became a post-tropical cyclone that no longer had hurricane-force winds.
The hurricane, which hit just two weeks after Hurricane Helene, left more than 3 million homes and businesses without power. It resulted in widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and numerous rescues. Southern Florida had already endured heavy rainfall and tornadoes before Milton's landfall.
Rescue teams have saved over 340 people and 49 pets. In Tampa, police found a woman in her 70s dead under a fallen tree branch. Sarasota and Anna Maria Island communities are evaluating the damage, with recovery efforts continuing statewide.
One dramatic rescue involved Hillsborough County officers saving a 14-year-old boy found floating on a piece of fencing. A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man holding onto an ice chest after his fishing boat was caught in the storm. The National Weather Service reported nearly 19 inches of rain in St. Petersburg, with severe flooding in Plant City.
Tampa avoided a direct hit and a major storm surge, but the hurricane, a Category 3 upon landfall in Siesta Key, caused widespread damage. In St. Petersburg, a crane on a 46-story building collapsed, and a water main break led to a service shutdown. Tropicana Field's roof, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, was also damaged.
Governor DeSantis commended Floridians' strength, stating, “You face two hurricanes in a couple of weeks — not easy to go through — but I’ve seen a lot of resilience throughout this state.” He expressed optimism about Florida's recovery.
Milton came ashore Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key, a barrier island of white sand beaches about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of the Tampa Bay area.
While the Tampa Bay area, home to over 3.3 million people, was spared a direct hit, there was still flooding and damage.
By Thursday afternoon, Milton had moved off Florida's east coast and became a post-tropical cyclone that no longer had hurricane-force winds.
