Florida authorities started assessing the harm left by Hurricane Milton’s passage throughout the state early Thursday, because the storm handed into the Atlantic Ocean after an evening of excessive winds, torrential rain and storm surge.
Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast late Wednesday as a Class 3 hurricane. It got here ashore with winds of 100 mph and spawned dozens of tornadoes. As of early Thursday, greater than 3 million Florida power prospects have been with out energy, in accordance with the PowerOutage.us web site.
The tornadoes on Florida’s Gulf Coast proved lethal. “We’ve misplaced some life,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson informed West Palm Seashore ABC Information affiliate WPBF Information. Pearson didn’t say what number of have been killed.
About 125 properties have been destroyed earlier than the hurricane got here ashore, a lot of them cellular properties in communities for senior residents, stated Kevin Guthrie, the director of the Florida Division of Emergency Administration.
The sky lights up as an electrical set up is broken, whereas Hurricane Milton approaches Sarasota, Fla., Oct. 9, 2024.
Marco Bello/Reuters
The Nationwide Hurricane Heart stated Thursday that the storm produced “vital flooding and damaging winds close to its path.” As of 5 a.m. ET, the NHC stated the worst situations shifted to east-central and northeastern Florida.”
Dramatic pictures and movies emerged in a single day as Milton ripped into Florida. Winds of 90 mph whipped by way of downtown St. Petersburg, collapsing a crane at a constructing development website there, in accordance with metropolis authorities. No accidents have been reported, however video from the scene confirmed harm to close by buildings.
Wind additionally tore off a portion of the roof on the Tropicana Discipline stadium within the metropolis. Capt. Garth Swingle of St. Petersburg Fireplace Rescue informed ABC Information they have been in touch with the individuals sheltering inside and that they have been secure.
An obvious twister attributable to Hurricane Milton, tore the awning off a 7-Eleven handy retailer, Oct. 9, 2024, in Cape Coral, Fla.
Marta Lavandier/AP
Milton additionally precipitated a serious water foremost break, which impacted potable water companies throughout your entire metropolis. The next shutdown is anticipated to final till needed repairs might be accomplished, officers stated.
To the north of Tampa, the Pasco Sheriff’s Workplace stated authorities obtained greater than 140 calls relating to roadway obstructions. Responders “are working to take away these hazards as shortly as potential,” the workplace wrote on X.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace reported vital storm harm to a 7-Eleven retailer northwest of Tampa, with Sheriff Chad Chronister warning of downed bushes and energy traces within the county. Chronister urged residents to remain indoors whereas responders cleared harm.
It is a growing story. Please test again for updates.
ABC Information’ Victoria Arancio and Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.
