Hurricane Milton Updates: Destruction and Power Outages

Hurricane Milton Wreaks Havoc on US Coast

“At this point, it's too dangerous to evacuate safely, so you have to shelter in place and just hunker down...”

Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida, causing widespread destruction and power outages. Learn about the storm's impact, including 17 tornadoes, 100+ homes destroyed, and 1.8M without electricity.

Hurricane Milton hit Florida's west coast on October 9 at 8:30 p.m. EDT as a Category 3 storm, bringing 120 mph winds and destructive tornadoes.

The storm destroyed over 100 homes and left nearly 2 million without power, before weakening to a Category 2 hurricane by 11 p.m. EDT.

Hurricane Milton's eye made landfall in Siesta Key, Florida, a community of 5,400 residents, 60 miles south of Tampa Bay. The storm's center was 75 miles southwest of Orlando.

The Tampa Bay area, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater, faced severe flooding, with St. Petersburg receiving 16.6 inches of rain on October 9, prompting a flash flood emergency declaration.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is cautiously optimistic that Tampa Bay might dodge significant damage from Hurricane Milton, since the storm made landfall before high tide. However, forecasters are still warning of a potential 13-foot rise in seawater levels, which could spell disaster for coastal communities.

The storm's impact has already been felt across several counties, with at least 19 tornadoes touching down and wreaking havoc. Governor DeSantis reported that around 125 homes, mostly mobile homes, have been destroyed, leaving many families displaced. The damage is widespread, with multiple counties struggling to cope with the aftermath.

As the situation unfolds, residents are advised to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders. With over 700,000 power outages reported and rising, the situation remains precarious. Utility crews are working tirelessly to restore power, but it may take days to fully recover.

Affected Areas:

• Brevard County: 86,000 power outages
• Flagler County: 50,000 power outages
• Lake County: 87,000 power outages
• Marion County: 70,000 power outages
• Orange County: 92,000 power outages
• Osceola County: 45,000 power outages
• Seminole County: 37,000 power outages
• Sumter County: 20,000 power outages
• Volusia County: 104,000 power outages

“At this point, it's too dangerous to evacuate safely, so you have to shelter in place and just hunker down, he said upon announcing the landfall.

Approximately 100 homes were ravaged in the county where 17 tornadoes touched down, leaving a trail of destruction. Meanwhile, a staggering 1.8 million homes and businesses across Florida were plunged into darkness.

Hurricane Milton is projected to cross the Florida peninsula overnight and emerge into the Atlantic on Thursday, October 10, still retaining hurricane strength.

Post-Florida, the storm is expected to weaken in the western Atlantic. However, coastal communities remain on high alert due to potential storm surges along the Atlantic Coast.

Stay updated on forecasted storm surges and weakening in the Atlantic.