At least nine people have died after Hurricane Milton devastated portions of Florida, leaving residents waking up to survey the damage.
Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday night near Sarasota County’s Siesta Key, bringing multiple tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and devastating storm surge.
Four people in St Lucie County retirement village have been killed by tornadoes brought on by the hurricane after a dozen twisters spawned in the region within 20 minutes.
Ferocious winds caused a crane to collapse into the The Tampa Bay Times in St Petersburg, while the roof of Tropicana Field baseball stadium has been left in disrepair.
More than 3.3m homes and businesses in Florida have been left powerless, with those in the west-central region the worst impacted.
Evacuation alerts were blasted out to millions, with Bradenton Police Chief Melanie issuing a bleak prognosis for those who neglected advice. “What we’ll probably be finding in the morning are bodies,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Thursday morning.
After landfall, Milton has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and is moving off Florida’s east coast – with residents still battling against brutal winds and storm surge.
Florida Highway Patrol out with chainsaws on Anna Maria Island
Julia Musto10 October 2024 18:35
More than 6,500 National Guard are supporting Milton response
Julia Musto10 October 2024 18:30
Mayorkas says FEMA has resources to response to immediate needs of Helene, Milton survivors
“That being said, we will need additional funds,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday at the White House press briefing.
“And we implore Congress, when it returns, to in fact fund FEMA as it is needed.”
Julia Musto10 October 2024 18:28
Milton saw at least 27 tornado touch downs
At least 27 tornadoes touched down in Hurricane Milton, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told the White House press briefing, joining virtually from North Carolina.
“Right now, search and rescue is our highest priority,” he said.
Mayorkas warned that the storm may have passed but its hazards had not.
Julia Musto10 October 2024 18:25
Julia Musto10 October 2024 18:14
Video: Topless Florida man jogs outside as Category 3 Hurricane Milton approaches
A topless Florida man jogged outside in Tampa despite the imminent Category 3 Hurricane Milton on Wednesday.
Julia Musto10 October 2024 18:08
DeSantis on hurricanes hitting Florida: ‘There’s nothing new under the sun’
“I just think that people should put this in perspective,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said of Milton Thursday, as winds picked up. “They try to take different things that happened with tropical weather and act like it’s something.”
“There’s nothing new under the sun,” he said.
“There’s precedent for all this in history. Like, it is hurricane season. You are going to have tropical weather,” the governor told reporters.
Julia Musto10 October 2024 18:03
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission help with Milton rescues
Julia Musto10 October 2024 18:00
