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Hurricane Milton unleashed its fury on Florida as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, leaving over 2.6 million residents without power and causing significant destruction along the coast.
With winds exceeding 100 mph (160 kph) and a series of tornadoes, the hurricane devastated communities still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Making landfall in Siesta Key near Sarasota, approximately 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa, Milton’s impact was felt strongly in the Tampa area.
St. Petersburg recorded more than 16 inches (41 centimeters) of rain, leading the National Weather Service to issue flash flood warnings for the region and other parts of western and central Florida.
Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, suffered severe damage as the fabric roof was torn apart by the relentless winds. While the extent of interior damage remains unclear, the destruction was evident as multiple cranes in the vicinity were toppled by the storm.
The flooding and chaos worsened when a water main break in St. Petersburg forced the city to shut down water service, leaving residents without access to tap water.
AP reports that more than 2.6 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.
Tornadoes began touching down across the state even before Milton made landfall.
The Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce, located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, suffered extensive damage, with homes destroyed and fatalities reported.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed to WPBF News that “we have lost some life,” but he did not specify the number of casualties.
Before the hurricane reached shore, about 125 homes were destroyed, primarily mobile homes in senior communities, according to Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Shortly after making landfall, Milton was downgraded to a Category 2 storm. By early Thursday, it had weakened to a Category 1 storm, with maximum sustained winds of around 90 mph (145 kph), located approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) south-southwest of Orlando.
Heavy rainfall is anticipated to lead to flooding inland along rivers and lakes as the hurricane moves across the Florida Peninsula, ultimately exiting into the Atlantic Ocean later on Thursday.
The storm is expected to significantly impact the densely populated Orlando area.
The hurricane struck a region still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which had flooded streets and homes in western Florida two weeks prior, resulting in at least 230 deaths across the South.
During a news conference in Tallahassee, Governor Ron DeSantis outlined the deployment of extensive resources, including 9,000 National Guard members from Florida and other states, over 50,000 utility workers from as far away as California, and highway patrol cars to escort gasoline tankers replenishing supplies for those evacuating.
“Unfortunately, there will be fatalities. I don’t think there’s any way around that,” DeSantis stated.
On Wednesday morning, a tornado touched down in the lightly populated Everglades, crossing Interstate 75, while another twister impacted Fort Myers, snapping tree limbs and damaging a gas station’s canopy.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued across 15 Florida counties, affecting approximately 7.2 million residents. Officials cautioned that those who stayed behind would have to fend for themselves, as first responders were not expected to undertake rescues during the storm’s peak.
