Hurricane Milton struck Florida, leading to at least 10 fatalities and leaving millions without power as it moved into the Atlantic Ocean. Key details include:
The storm spawned multiple tornadoes, with at least 27 reported across the state, causing extensive damage.
Significant flooding occurred, particularly on barrier islands south of Tampa, although the feared storm surge was largely avoided.
In St. Lucie County, five deaths were linked to tornado activity, particularly affecting senior-living communities.
Over 3.2 million homes and businesses lost power, compounding issues from Hurricane Helene, which had already caused outages weeks prior.
The Tampa Bay area experienced damage, including the shredding of Tropicana Field’s roof, which was used as a staging area for emergency responders.
Residents described harrowing experiences during the storm, with many seeking shelter and supplies in preparation for severe weather.
President Biden has called for Congress to reconvene to address disaster relief funding needs as the state assesses the damage.