Hurricane Milton Devastates Florida, Leaves Damage and Casualties

As efforts continue to restore power in Florida following Hurricane Milton, communities remain affected by widespread flooding and destruction. The powerful Category 3 hurricane, with winds reaching 120 mph, made landfall on Wednesday night, causing significant damage across the state.

Hurricane Milton has been responsible for at least 16 deaths, including fatal incidents linked to a deadly tornado outbreak on Florida’s east coast. The National Weather Service (NWS) is conducting surveys to assess the situation and identify the number of tornadoes spawned by the hurricane.

Governor’s Office reported that at least 2.2 million utility customers remain without power as of Friday morning. Many regions are experiencing major flooding, particularly in areas like Hillsborough County near Tampa, where the Alafia community forecasts potential critical flood levels.

Coastal regions, including Duval, Brevard, St. Johns, and Volusia counties, remain under a coastal flood advisory, with warnings about large breaking waves and life-threatening rip currents. The storm surge and extensive rainfall have rendered many roads impassable, and gasoline shortages persist as supply chains recover from disrupted distribution.

In a tragic incident in Tampa, an elderly woman was killed when a branch from a large tree collapsed during post-hurricane restoration activities. Meanwhile, in Orange County, an individual perished after reportedly stepping on a downed power line amid debris clearance efforts. Additional casualties have been confirmed in other affected areas, including St. Petersburg, Volusia County, Polk, and Citrus counties.

Emergency response teams are actively working with those affected, and the NWS plans to evaluate damages across the affected regions, such as Florida’s Treasure Coast. In St. Lucie County, a suspected tornado impacted the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, causing widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation as restoration and recovery efforts proceed. The public is advised to stay informed through official channels as developments unfold.