Hurricane Milton started impacting Florida’s west coast on Wednesday evening around 8:30 p.m., bringing tornadoes, strong winds, heavy rain, and dangerous flooding to much of the state. The storm has caused widespread damage and disrupted the lives of millions of Floridians.
According to NBC News and Forbes, Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, south of Tampa, with winds reaching 120 miles per hour. By nightfall, almost two million homes and businesses had lost power across the state.
The hurricane’s strong winds caused several tornadoes, leading to deaths in St. Lucie County on Florida’s east coast. The total number has still not been confirmed but the County’s Sherriff, Keith Pearson, stated that many had lost their lives at the Spanish Lakes Country Club.
Additionally, coastal areas faced another threat as the storm pushed seawater onto land, with some places expecting water levels to rise up to 13 feet above normal.
Many people had to leave their homes as the storm approached. Officials in several counties along the coast told residents to move to safer areas, especially those living near the water or in mobile homes. In an interview with CNN two days ago, Tampa’s mayor warned that staying in these danger zones could be fatal.
The storm has also severely disrupted travel in Florida. Airports in Tampa and Orlando closed, causing many flight cancellations across the country.
Popular tourist spots, including Disney World and Universal Orlando, also shut down to keep visitors safe. Hurricane Milton is expected to drop large amounts of rain across Florida, with some areas possibly getting up to 18 inches. This heavy rainfall could cause dangerous flooding in many parts of the state.
The storm has prompted a major response from both state and national leaders. President Biden canceled an overseas trip to focus on managing the government’s response to the hurricane. Meanwhile, Florida’s governor has been commended for his actions as he quickly declared a state of emergency, urging residents to seek shelter while allowing for more resources to be used in rescue and recovery efforts.
As Florida provides free shelters for people to wait out the hurricane, officials have reported that fugitives and sex offenders are not allowed to stay. According to the Flager County Officials, people coming into the shelters will be checked and registered sex offenders will be required to stay in the county jail.
Making matters worse, Hurricane Milton arrived just two weeks after another strong storm, Hurricane Helene, hit Florida and other southeastern states. Many communities were still dealing with damage from Helene when Milton arrived.
As the hurricane moves across Florida, officials warn that dangers from high winds, flooding, and tornadoes will continue. The full impact of Hurricane Milton is still unknown, but it’s clear that Florida may face a difficult recovery process in the coming weeks, if not months.
**Update** Four people have been confirmed dead in St. Lucie County, according to officials who spoke to WPBF 25 News.
