The last time we reported on Hurricane Milton, it was classified as a Category 5 hurricane with some gusts of over 160 mph and a few experts wanting to designate it as a Category 6 storm.
Fortunately, the winds dissipated a bit, and Milton struck Florida as a Category 3 hurricane.
Tropical-storm-force winds, flooding rains and tornadoes were spreading inland as the fierce hurricane made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County. Milton’s sustained winds have tapered off from 145 mph to 120 mph − bringing it down to a Category 3 hurricane − but the storm has grown in size, making its potential damage more widespread.Approximately 125 homes had already been destroyed by Hurricane Milton by Wednesday evening, according to Florida officials. Nearly 1 million people were in the dark within 15 minutes of Milton’s landfall, according to USA TODAY power outage data. The weather service warned that catastrophic flash flooding is possible in north central Florida as Milton crosses the state.Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, said most of the lost residences were mobile homes in senior communities.”We’re trying to get to Florida’s most vulnerable to make sure they’re taken care of,” he said. But Guthrie assured Florida residents, “We are with you.”
Milton still managed to unleash at least 19 tornadoes so far.
Speaking during a 8 p.m. press briefing Wednesday evening, Gov. Ron DeSantis said 116 tornado warnings have been issues across the state — including 19 confirmed touchdowns — and the powerful Milton has not even made landfall yet.That number is only expected to rise over the next 24 hours, state officials said.The governor said he does not remember a storm in recent history where so many tornado warnings were issued. Those tornado-warned storms carved through the state, leaving behind a path of devastation.
Multiple people were killed at a senior community near Fort Pierce as a result of the twisters, and dozens of homes have been damaged in Luce County.
WPTV said the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office confirmed “multiple fatalities” occurred at the Spanish Lakes Country Club. It’s unclear how many people were killed.Dozens of agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, responded to the community where dozens of homes are being searched as search and rescue operations are currently underway.“We have dozens of homes in St. Lucie County that have been damaged, some catastrophic damage,” St. Lucie County spokesman Erick Gill said. “We are working with the St. Lucie County Fire District … National Guard, as well as units from the sheriff’s office and even first responders from surrounding counties to help with search and rescue.”
One tornado took out a 10K square-foot building at St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
In a Facebook Reel, Sheriff Pearson said the “devastating tornado” took out a 10,000-square-foot red iron building that housed the sheriff’s office’s patrol cars.No one was in the building at the time it collapsed and no injuries were reported, according to Pearson.
Ahead of the hurricane, President Donald Trump provided 275 linemen from the Florida Power & Light Company with rooms at no cost at the Trump National Doral in Miami.
Trump’s son, Eric Trump, shared a photo of the linemen on social media, thanking them for their work.”Honored to have 275 incredible linemen from FPL at @TrumpDoral as they get ready to respond to the aftermath of Hurricane #Milton!” Eric Trump wrote in a post on X on Wednesday.”You are amazing and the Trump Family, and entire state of Florida, appreciates you! Enjoy the rooms – they are the best in Florida! Be safe!” he added.
Those lineman are going to be dreadfully busy with recovery operations.
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