Florida Slammed by Powerful Hurricane Milton
A weakening but still destructive Hurricane Milton struck Florida’s west coast on Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm, leaving millions of homes without power and unleashing deadly storm surges along coastal cities such as Sarasota, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Fort Myers. The storm, which has been labelled by US President Joe Biden as the “storm of the century,” brought fierce winds, flash flooding, and widespread damage to the region.
Despite downgrading from a Category 5 storm as it approached the coast, Hurricane Milton remains one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the US mainland in recent years, having churned through the Gulf of Mexico for several days before making landfall just after 8:30 p.m. ET near Sarasota, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami.
Catastrophic Impact on West Florida
Although the densely populated Tampa and St. Petersburg areas were spared the worst, Sarasota and Fort Myers bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. These regions experienced significant flooding, with seawater surging up to 10 feet (approximately 3 metres) in some places—just below initial forecasts of a devastating 13-foot storm surge.
Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor, declared a state of emergency for 51 out of the state’s 67 counties, stating that the western coast faced the worst of Milton’s storm surge. “At this point, it’s too dangerous to evacuate safely, so you have to shelter in place and just hunker down,” DeSantis said, urging people to remain indoors and stay safe.
Meanwhile, flash flood warnings remain in effect for much of the Tampa Bay area, with some cities seeing over 16 inches (42 cm) of rainfall. The heavy downpours and sustained winds above 120 mph wreaked havoc across the state, causing damage to homes and businesses, especially in vulnerable areas already battered by Hurricane Helene just 12 days prior.
Tornadoes and Roof-Ripping Winds Add to the Chaos
The storm’s immense size also led to widespread tornado activity, particularly in South Florida, where areas far from the storm’s core were under multiple tornado warnings. At least seven tornadoes touched down in the state, ripping roofs from homes in Fort Myers and toppling mobile homes in Sarasota County. Governor DeSantis confirmed that around 125 homes had been destroyed, mostly in mobile home parks.
In one of the most alarming scenes, William Tokajer, police chief of Holmes Beach, advised residents who refused to evacuate to write their names, birthdates, and social security numbers on their limbs to aid in identification should the worst occur.
Power Outages Leave Millions in the Dark
More than 3.3 million homes and businesses were left without electricity as the storm knocked out power across Florida’s west coast, according to data from poweroutage.us. Many cities, including Tampa, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg, remained submerged in water and facing prolonged power outages.
Tampa’s Mayor Issues Stark Warning
Tampa’s mayor, Jane Castor, had warned residents in evacuation zones that staying in their homes could prove deadly. “If you don’t leave now, your home will become your coffin,” she said ahead of the hurricane’s landfall.
Evacuations were ordered for millions of people living in vulnerable areas along the Gulf coast, though some chose to remain behind despite the warnings. These holdouts were subjected to the full force of Milton’s winds and floodwaters, with rescues still ongoing in some areas on Thursday.
The Aftermath: Milton Crosses Florida, Heads Into the Atlantic
As Hurricane Milton continued its path across the Florida peninsula early Thursday, it passed south of Orlando before emerging into the Atlantic. Although it weakened slightly, the storm still posed serious flooding risks across central and northern parts of the state. The NHC’s Thursday morning advisory warned of significant flash flooding in these areas, along with major river flooding as heavy rainfall persisted.
By morning, the extent of the damage was becoming clear. Roads were submerged, homes were flooded, and communities across west Florida were left grappling with the aftermath of what could prove to be one of the most destructive storms in recent memory.
National Response and Political Fallout
In a White House address, President Joe Biden condemned false claims from former President Donald Trump that federal recovery funds were being redirected to immigrants. “What a ridiculous thing to say,” Biden remarked, urging Floridians to trust official guidance. He reiterated that Hurricane Milton was a life-threatening event and called on those in its path to listen to local authorities.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Milton comes just 12 days after Hurricane Helene tore through Florida’s panhandle, Georgia, and the Carolinas, making Milton the second catastrophic hurricane to hit the state within two weeks. As residents begin the long road to recovery, Florida will undoubtedly face months of rebuilding and restoration in the wake of this deadly storm.
Conclusion
Hurricane Milton’s impact on Florida has been nothing short of catastrophic, with millions left without power, homes destroyed, and entire communities flooded. As the storm moves into the Atlantic, Florida braces for the next phase—recovery and rebuilding. However, with floodwaters still rising and rescue operations ongoing, the full scale of the disaster is yet to be realised.
