Hurricane Milton Triggers Tornado Warnings and Power Outages Across Florida

As Hurricane Milton approached Florida, the National Weather Service issued 126 tornado warnings across the state, signaling potential additional destruction from the storm system. An example of the severe weather impact was captured in drone footage showcasing the aftermath of a tornado at the Lake Placid Solar Power Plant in Sylvan Shores.

The drone footage, acquired by a North Carolina-based power and gas company, reveals a significant path of destruction through the solar field. The footage from October 10th at the solar power plant in Highlands County highlights a distinct line of debris cutting through what were once rows of functioning solar panels. This facility, which generates energy for approximately 12,000 households, suffered considerable damage, with leftover metal scraps marking the tornado’s trajectory.

Highlands County reported at least one person was injured following the severe damage inflicted by the tornado on the Tropical Harbor Mobile Home Park. This damage occurred on a Wednesday, just before Hurricane Milton’s predicted landfall.

Emergency services continue to address widespread power outages, with Duke Energy noting 46,809 of its Florida customers remained without electricity as of Tuesday. The extensive outages coincide with gas shortages, further complicating emergency responses and recovery efforts in the affected areas.