Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 3 storm, made landfall last night just south of Sarasota, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The storm has claimed the lives of at least nine people and caused widespread power outages affecting millions of Florida residents. As recovery efforts begin, officials warn that dangerous conditions, including deadly flash floods, continue to threaten many areas.
Governor Ron DeSantis provided an update today, acknowledging the severity of the situation while noting that Milton did not bring the worst-case scenario that some had feared. “While the storm was significant, it was not the catastrophic event we had anticipated in terms of storm surge,” DeSantis stated. However, the governor cautioned that residents must remain vigilant, as the risk of flash floods and additional tornadoes persists.
Milton generated at least 19 confirmed tornadoes across the state, with more expected to be reported as officials assess the damage. In St. Lucie County, two tornadoes caused significant destruction, claiming the lives of at least four people, including some residing in a retirement community. Sheriff Keith Parsons of St. Lucie County described the situation as “devastating,” with one twister destroying a garage housing emergency vehicles. Despite this, emergency services have continued uninterrupted.
In Sarasota, where Milton made landfall, Sheriff Kurt Hoffman expressed relief that many residents had evacuated ahead of the storm. The area was already reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which struck earlier this season. “Helene’s damage convinced many people to leave,” Hoffman said. “Milton just made a bad situation worse.”
Sarasota County experienced less storm surge than expected from Hurricane Milton, providing a slight reprieve to the area. Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi reported that beaches saw a surge of around seven to eight feet, lower than the projected 10 to 15 feet. While this reduced impact is a relief, she urged residents and evacuees to remain where they are as first responders and power crews assess the roads and conditions in the aftermath. Emergency teams are also checking on individuals who stayed behind in evacuation zones to ensure their safety.
The less severe storm surge is attributed to the southern half of Hurricane Milton breaking up as it passed over the county. Despite the lower-than-anticipated surge, officials continue to emphasize the importance of staying off the roads while recovery efforts are underway. St. Pete Beach Fire Chief Jim Kilpatrick noted that many residents wisely evacuated, thanks in part to lessons learned from Hurricane Helene, which recently impacted the area. Kilpatrick’s team, fortunately, has not had to perform any rescues in the storm’s wake, signaling that preparedness efforts helped mitigate potential disaster.
Air travel has also been significantly impacted, with more than 2,200 flights canceled as of this morning, according to the flight tracking website Flight Aware. Numerous airports in Florida remain closed, with significant delays affecting travel nationwide.
Millions of Florida residents are still without power, with the central west coast being the hardest hit. Governor DeSantis noted that over 3.3 million people are currently without electricity, although linemen have already restored power to around 700,000 homes. Utility companies had warned that outages could last for an extended period due to the storm’s intensity.
President Joe Biden addressed the nation earlier today, urging Florida residents to stay indoors and shelter in place due to downed power lines, debris, and road washouts creating hazardous conditions. “Help is on the way, but people need to remain inside until local officials say it’s safe,” Biden emphasized.
Florida Senator Rick Scott also spoke with President Biden, advocating for FEMA to set up offices closer to the areas hardest hit by Milton. Scott echoed Biden’s concerns about the need for caution in the aftermath of the storm and called on Congress to return to Washington to ensure FEMA has the resources necessary for recovery efforts. Scott added that agricultural communities, in particular, require additional support in the form of block grants.
The damage from Hurricane Milton is extensive, with reports of severe structural damage across the state. In St. Petersburg, Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, suffered significant roof damage during the storm, complicating plans to use the stadium as a staging ground for recovery operations. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.
Experts predict that more than one million property insurance claims will be filed in the wake of the storm. Florida Policy Project Manager Jeff Brandes estimates the damage could reach up to $40 billion. Despite the state’s ongoing property insurance crisis, Brandes expressed confidence that no insurance companies would go bankrupt due to Milton, although he expects increased pressure to maintain steady rates in the future.
As recovery efforts begin, rescue teams are working around the clock to assist storm-battered communities across the state. With millions still at risk of flash floods and the potential for more tornadoes, the full scale of Hurricane Milton’s impact is only beginning to be understood.
