Hurricane Milton surged into the Atlantic on Thursday after battering Florida, where it caused power outages for over 3 million residents and triggered 150 tornadoes. The storm resulted in at least four deaths, adding to the devastation from Hurricane Helene, but spared Tampa from a direct hit.
Milton shifted south and made landfall late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key, roughly 70 miles (112 km) south of Tampa. Although widespread damage was reported, and water levels may rise further, Governor Ron DeSantis noted that it wasn’t “the worst-case scenario.”
Tampa escaped the anticipated deadly storm surge, though parts of the state saw up to 18 inches (45 cm) of rainfall. Sarasota County experienced the worst surge, with levels reaching 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 meters), less severe than during Helene.
As Thursday dawned, warnings remained in place for much of Florida’s east-central coast and northward into Georgia, while tropical storm alerts extended to South Carolina. Officials in the most affected Florida counties urged residents to stay home due to hazards like downed power lines and blocked roads.
Inland areas, such as Plant City near Tampa, faced severe flooding, with City Manager Bill McDaniel describing the situation as “absolutely staggering” after 13.5 inches (34 cm) of rainfall. Emergency crews rescued 35 people overnight.
On the tiny barrier island of Matlacha, near Fort Myers, both a tornado and storm surge hit, damaging buildings. Residents, like 90-year-old Tom Reynolds, were left cleaning up the wreckage.
Meanwhile, Anna Maria Island workers were relieved to clear debris without facing floods, as they had after Hurricane Helene two weeks prior.
Milton left 3.4 million homes and businesses without electricity, damaged Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, and led to water service shutdowns in St. Petersburg due to a water main break.
Rescue operations were underway, with more than 40 people saved overnight. In Tampa, police rescued 15 people trapped in a house struck by a fallen tree.
Among the many tornadoes, one crossed I-75 in the Everglades, and another struck Fort Myers, causing severe damage.
The Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce was especially hard hit, with homes destroyed and at least four fatalities.
Milton weakened to a Category 1 storm as it exited Florida near Cape Canaveral, leaving behind a region still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s destruction two weeks earlier, which claimed over 230 lives across the South.
Many residents had been urged to evacuate. Jackie Curnick, who lives in Sarasota, decided to stay home due to challenges finding affordable shelter with her 2-year-old son and baby due in late October. Though without power, her family remained safe through the storm.
Major attractions like Disney World and Universal Orlando remained closed Thursday, while the Tampa airport aimed to reopen by Friday after minimal damage.
On Anna Maria Island, Police Chief John Cosby was relieved that residents had largely evacuated and the storm surge didn’t materialize, leaving the police station dry. “It’s nice to have a place to come back to,” he remarked.
