ORLANDO, FL – Hurricane Milton’s devastation is immense, stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Ocean. The powerful storm claimed the lives of 11 individuals and left millions without electricity as emergency crews worked tirelessly to manage the chaos. Although Milton weakened before making landfall, the threat of flooding continues to loom over the affected areas.
In Daytona Beach, police and fire crews navigated through flooded streets on Thursday, rescuing trapped residents and their pets. Across the state, first responders were engaged in similar efforts, particularly in Tampa, where a tree had crashed onto a house sheltering 15 people. Despite the fierce winds and torrential rain, Tampa was spared from the catastrophic storm surge initially feared when the Category 3 hurricane veered 70 miles south before landing.
While the storm’s impact was significant, it was not the worst-case scenario many had anticipated. The storm surge was less severe than the one observed during Hurricane Helene, which had recently battered the state. Nevertheless, Milton’s force still wrought considerable destruction, tearing the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and likely igniting a house fire in Brooksville.
The storm’s fury also spawned several tornadoes, some of which were deadly, even before the hurricane reached land. The destructive winds brought down power lines, plunging millions into darkness and complicating rescue and recovery operations.
Meteorologist Kaitlin McGrath provided an update on Milton’s trajectory, noting that the storm, now downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, had moved into the Atlantic. With winds reduced to 75 mph, the remnants of Milton were located about 200 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, posing no further threat to land as it continued to weaken.
Despite the calmer weather now prevailing in Florida, the aftermath of Milton is still being assessed, with communities grappling with the extensive damage. Efforts to assist those affected by both Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene are underway, with numerous agencies collecting donations to aid recovery efforts.
For those looking to contribute to relief efforts, a simple text message can connect them to organizations actively supporting the impacted communities. As the remnants of Milton drift further into the Atlantic, the focus remains on rebuilding and supporting those who have lost so much.