Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc in Florida, spawning tornadoes that left massive property damage and more than three million homes and businesses without power. It put about 11 million people at risk and there are reports of at least ten dead, according to NBC.
Milton is the strongest hurricane ever so late (mid-October) in the Gulf of Mexico, although it ended up being milder than forecasters predicted. It is still the sixth strongest across the Atlantic basin at any point this year.
Milton was moving toward the Atlantic Ocean Thursday morning after making landfall the night before as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa. Just hours before the typhoon’s arrival, violent tornadoes tore off roofs, overturned vehicles, and scattered debris into the air. Homes and infrastructure have collapsed, while emergency services are working tirelessly to help those affected.
#QhuboTV #Internationals | DAMAGES AFTER MILTON’S ENTRY THROUGH FLORIDA!
Aerial view shows boats swept into flooded streets; as well as property damage in Florida after Hurricane Milton hit the state.📸getty images pic.twitter.com/kBN7vTvMHx
— Q’hubo TV Official (@Qhubotofficial) October 10, 2024
Photos and videos showed homes submerged in murky waters, residents trying to get away in small boats, roads torn to shreds and debris scattered in all directions.
Avenir neighborhood in Palm Beach Gardens @NWSMiami #florida #milton pic.twitter.com/qnotrsSE27
— Brooke Silverang (@WPBF_BROOKE) October 9, 2024
The storm’s winds were particularly strong at Venice Beach in Sarasota County, where they reached 107 mph. St. Petersburg recorded an impressive 18.31 inches of rainfall, meeting the threshold for a 1 in 1,000 year rainfall event.
Tampa residents woke up to widespread damage. Milton toppled a construction crane on a downtown building and ripped off the roof of Tropicana Field, which was to be used to house emergency workers – a plan that was scrapped before the storm’s arrival. The city’s mayor told reporters that no serious injuries or deaths have been reported there since the storm.
At least four deaths have been confirmed in St. Lucie County on the state’s Atlantic coast, where tornadoes touched down. At least two people were killed in St. Petersburg during the storm, according to police. At least three people died in Volusia County, according to the sheriff.
Authorities continue to urge residents to stay indoors until Milton re-enters the Atlantic.
Dude gets caught inside hurricane Milton in his car
SCARY#Milton #HurricanMilton #Florida #HurricaneMilton pic.twitter.com/ZOI348PBTB
— DLG (@SelectaDG) October 10, 2024
Photos and videos showed homes submerged in murky waters, residents trying to get away in small boats, roads torn to shreds and debris scattered in all directions.
The storm’s winds were particularly strong at Venice Beach in Sarasota County, where they reached 107 mph. St. Petersburg recorded an impressive 18.31 inches of rainfall, meeting the threshold for a 1 in 1,000 year rainfall event.
Tampa residents woke up to widespread damage. Milton toppled a construction crane on a downtown building and ripped off the roof of Tropicana Field, which was to be used to house emergency workers – a plan that was scrapped before the storm’s arrival. The city’s mayor told reporters that no serious injuries or deaths have been reported there since the storm.
“Luckily it wasn’t the worst case scenario”
The storm surge was not as monstrous as expected, Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters at a Thursday morning briefing.
“The storm was significant, but luckily it wasn’t the worst case scenario,” DeSandis said. “The storm weakened before landfall and the storm surge, as originally reported, was not as significant overall as that seen for Hurricane Helen.”
More than 80,000 people fled to shelters overnight. Search and rescue teams worked through the night to save families and pets, DeSantis told reporters. At least 48 people had been rescued by 6:30 a.m. Greek time, he said.
President Joe Biden said he has prepared thousands of federal personnel in areas affected by the storm, including more than 1,000 members of the Coast Guard.
“Help is on the way,” Biden said in a post on X. He said downed power lines, debris and washed-out roads were creating dangerous conditions. “Stay in place until local officials tell you it’s safe to go out,” he said.
More than 3,000 flights were canceled or delayed as the storm closed airports.
Milton remained a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds of 85 mph as of 8 a.m. Greek time, according to the National Meteorological Service. It was located 75 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral and moving east-northeast at 18 mph.
The storm is expected to weaken “rapidly” as it moves away from the US coast, the weather service added.
Milton made landfall just 13 days after Helen devastated the Southeast, breaking the record for the shortest time between two major hurricanes in Florida. Helene has been blamed for at least 243 deaths in the region, including 25 in the Sunshine State.
Helen also caused deaths in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
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