Hurricane Milton tore through Florida on Wednesday night, generating over 150 tornadoes and leaving a trail of destruction across the state. The powerful storm knocked out power to more than 3 million people, caused extensive flooding, and claimed at least four lives, all while sparing Tampa from a direct hit.
The storm made landfall in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa, as a Category 3 hurricane. Though the feared storm surge in Tampa didn’t materialize, other areas, particularly Sarasota County, experienced surges of up to 10 feet, and rainfall reached as high as 18 inches in some regions.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated that while the damage was significant, it wasn’t as devastating as initially predicted. Officials, however, continued to warn residents of ongoing dangers, including downed power lines, flooded roads, and blocked bridges, urging people in hard-hit counties like Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Sarasota to stay home until it was safe to venture outside.
Inland flooding was particularly severe in Plant City, where emergency crews rescued 35 residents overnight. “We have flooding in places that I’ve never seen before,” said City Manager Bill McDaniel, who reported over 13 inches of rain.
Despite the storm’s fury, some coastal areas, like Anna Maria Island, were spared the worst, with sand piles from previous storms helping to shield homes from further destruction.
As rescue operations continue, state officials have completed over 40 rescues. Tornadoes spawned by the storm caused additional devastation, including one that struck the Everglades and another that ripped through Fort Myers, damaging buildings and uprooting trees. The Spanish Lakes Country Club on Florida’s Atlantic Coast was particularly hard hit, with at least four lives lost due to tornadoes in the area.
As Hurricane Milton tracked away from Florida early Thursday morning, it was downgraded to a Category 1 storm. The state now begins the arduous process of recovery, still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Helene just two weeks earlier.