Hurricane Milton Strikes Florida: Over 3 Million Lose Power

More than 3 million homes and businesses were without power early Thursday as Hurricane Milton moved away from Florida as a Category 1 storm, after causing widespread damage overnight. The violent weather left a trail of disrupted services and compelled local authorities to initiate extensive rescue operations.

As of 11 a.m. EDT, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported Hurricane Milton had moved approximately 135 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, sustaining winds of 80 mph. The hurricane warning that had been posted from Sebastian Inlet to the Flagler/Volusia County line was downgraded to a tropical storm warning as the storm weakened.

Reports issued earlier showed that at 6 a.m. EDT, Orlando police and fire officials were forced to shelter in place, while the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office commenced rescue operations. By 4:40 a.m. EDT, the hurricane had left Florida’s east coast, though it continued to produce damaging winds and heavy rains.

Tornado outbreaks impacted St. Lucie County and Florida’s East Coast, resulting in several fatalities. At 8:30 p.m. on October 9, the storm made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County with winds of 120 mph.

Localities such as Plant City warned residents against standing water due to possible electrical hazards and contamination, while St. Petersburg officials shut down part of the city’s drinking water supply due to infrastructure impacts. A crane collapse in downtown St. Petersburg near the Tampa Bay Times’ main office was noted, though no injuries were reported.

A significant effort was undertaken by hospitals across the state in anticipation of potential damage from Hurricane Milton. Tampa General Hospital remained operational, deploying its ‘aquafence’ to mitigate flooding threats. The hospital facilitated the provision of care, maintaining reserves of essential supplies. Despite the severe weather, all of AdventHealth’s facilities except for one remained open throughout the hurricane in the Tampa Bay area.

In anticipation of the storm, over 200 facilities were evacuated, and Tampa General deployed an ‘aquafence’ for flood protection. Tampa’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge was closed due to high winds as the hurricane approached.

President Joe Biden labeled Hurricane Milton a “matter of life and death,” urging evacuations in the storm’s path and canceling an international trip to oversee emergency response operations. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed tornado-related fatalities in St. Lucie County but stated that a comprehensive tally of casualties was still unavailable.

As recovery efforts begin, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are under advisories for tropical storm conditions. Authorities continue to stress safety as road conditions remain hazardous due to debris and flooding.