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TAMPA, Fla.—After more than a week of watching, worrying, and speculating, Floridians came face to face with Hurricane Milton.
There was damage in Milton’s wake, as well as tragedies. At least 10 people lost their lives because of the storm.
For most, however, it was a hurricane that wasn’t as bad as expected.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed on Oct. 10 that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will need more funding as soon as possible following hurricanes Milton and Helene.
Helene dealt widespread damage across the southern United States, doing its worst in western North Carolina, after making landfall late last month. Milton slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast as a category 3 hurricane late on Oct. 9, and officials have not fully surveyed the extent of the damage.
In a news conference at the White House, Mayorkas said he believed FEMA has enough funding to deal with the aftermath of both storms, when answering questions from reporters.
In central Florida’s Polk County, 1 million people are without cellular reception, according to Florida Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis.
“I’m outraged by the lack of pre-staging of assets by @Verizon in Polk County. This is Hurricane Michael [2018] all over again. 1M people are without cell service after Hurricane Milton. Unacceptable. We need that network up and running asap for our first responders. Can you hear me now?” Patronis posted on X.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said on Thursday that claimants seeking relief for hurricane damages will need to submit separate requests for Helene and Milton.
“If somebody has had impacts from both Helene, as well as Milton, I actually need them to apply for both scenarios, for both of those incidents, because they will be eligible for different funding and additional funding, as a result of having double damages,” she said during a press conference with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Residents need to be specific when it comes to requesting relief, and not mix up the storms.
Insurance losses from Hurricane Milton could range from $30 billion to $50 billion, Fitch Ratings said on Thursday.
If accurate, that estimate would constitute the second largest insured loss since Hurricane Ian in 2022, which cost insurers $60 billion.
The devastation left by Milton is poised to push total industry insured losses for 2024 over $100 billion for the fifth consecutive year, according to Fitch.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Thursday that Congress stands ready to approve additional relief funding to help rebuild the areas in the path of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“Congress is fully prepared to provide additional disaster relief funding as soon as states submit their damage assessments,” he said.
President Biden said on Thursday he wants members of Congress to return from their October hiatus to pass emergency funding legislation, but Johnson has, so far, not called members to reconvene.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis praised the “resilience,” “grit,” and “determination” of Floridians in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
“You face two hurricanes in a couple of weeks—not easy to go through—but I’ve seen a lot of resilience throughout this state,” he said.
“When you’re a Floridian, you kind of just know that these are things that can happen and you roll with it and you just kind of deal with it,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of grit, I’ve seen a lot of determination and I’m very confident that this area is going to bounce back very, very quickly.”
St. Petersburg Airport on Florida’s Gulf Coast got 18.87 inches of rain as a result of Hurricane Milton, according to the National Weather Service as of 8 p.m. ET on Oct. 9.
Other airports in the state were also affected.
Tampa International Airport got 11.73 inches of rain while Orlando Executive Airport measured 6.87 inches.
Rescue operations are in full swing following the devastation from Hurricane Milton, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference on Thursday.
“As of this afternoon, at least 340 individuals and 49 pets have been rescued. Florida National Guard, Florida law enforcement and urban search and rescue teams are continuing to work throughout the day,” he said.
DeSantis said 125 more rescue operations, involving police and first responders in 26 counties, were criss-crossing the state.
Roughly 40 percent of the Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) customers who lost power due to Hurricane Milton have had their power restored, the company announced.
FPL is the nation’s largest electric utility, serving some 5.9 million customers across Florida. About 1.8 million of them lost power as Milton tore across the center of the state on Wednesday night.
As of 2 p.m. Thursday, those outages had dropped to fewer than 1.1 million as more than 730,000 FPL customers had power restored.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has stepped forward to assist in the recovery effort after Hurricane Milton, a Pentagon spokesman announced at a press conference on Thursday.
“As of this morning, the Florida National Guard has activated more than 6,500 guardsmen and mobilized 500-plus high water vehicles, 26 helicopters, and more than a dozen watercraft,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said.
“Another 3,000 National Guardsmen from 19 states are also ready to support,” he said, emphasizing the national character of the recovery effort.
Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Orlando will reopen on Oct. 11 after temporarily closing ahead of Hurricane Milton.
All of the theme parks are located in Orlando.
The National Hurricane Center announced on Thursday afternoon that Milton had weakened below hurricane strength, and is now classified as a post-tropical cyclone.
As of 2 p.m. ET the storm had moved 200 miles east of Cape Canaveral, Florida, traveling at about 21 mph with wind gusts of 75 mph.
Milton is expected to continue to weaken over the next few days as it travels northeast over the Atlantic.
President Joe Biden called on Florida residents who evacuated their homes before the hurricane not to return until they get the green light from authorities.
“There's still very dangerous conditions in the state, and people should wait and get an all-clear by the leaders before they go out,” he said.
Biden noted that life-saving measures have made a difference.
Former President Donald Trump expressed his condolences on Thursday to those in Florida who were affected by Hurricane Milton.
In a video message shared to his Truth Social platform, the 45th president said he was “deeply saddened” by the reported losses of life and property.
“We feel so sorry for you, and we want God to be with you, and we know God is with you. Our hearts go out to each and every one of you,” Trump said.
President Joe Biden called on Congress to return for a special session to allocate funding for relief efforts following the hurricanes.
“Congress should be coming back and moving on emergency needs immediately. They're going to have to come back after the election as well. This is going to be a long haul for total rebuilding,” he said.
VENICE, Fla.—After hours of howling winds, battering rain, and stress-filled uncertainty, Venice residents awoke on Thursday to clear skies and scattered debris. Hurricane Milton took a sharp turn to the east the night before, making landfall near Siesta Key around 8:30 p.m. just hours after the National Hurricane Center predicted a landfall just south of Tampa Bay.
Some estimates indicated Venice could get between 10 and 15 feet of storm surge once the back of Milton’s eye came ashore. As the center of the massive eye engulfed areas between Lakewood Ranch and Venice at roughly 9 p.m. Wednesday, screaming wind gusts were replaced with an eerie and surreal calmness, as winds diminished to a gentle breeze. That break was short-lived, as the back of the storm’s eye—which carries the brunt of the hurricane’s surge—made its way on shore.
Ten people have died in Hurricane Milton, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
“Our understanding is that those fatalities were caused by the tornadoes, but I just want to introduce a little bit of tentativeness to that, because of the fluidity of the situation,” he said.
Mayorkas added that the number will likely change.
More than 3 million people are without power as a result of the hurricane, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
“Structures have been severely damaged or collapsed, and tragically, we know that lives have been lost,” he said.
At least 10 people have died as a result of the storm, he said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined the cleanup plan after Hurricane Milton at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. The governor made it clear that much work remained, but he also praised the diligence of the emergency workers.
“People have been working 24/7, particularly on the west coast of Florida,” he said.
Before the storm hit, DeSantis put in place 50,000 “prestaged” linemen throughout the state who were able to spring into action repairing downed power lines as soon as it was safe.
Two Florida Republicans spoke with President Joe Biden following the hurricane to help ensure funds from government agencies get to those impacted.
“Just spoke with @POTUS Biden—he’s personally ensuring FEMA doesn’t cause delays with debris removal and supports the $15B in FEMA funds specifically for hurricane victims,” posted Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) on X.
She called on Congress to return for a special session to pass legislation to provide further assistance to those affected by the storm.
The hurricane roared onshore near the Sarasota area on Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), bringing winds in excess of 110 mph.
Officials with the Rays said that a handful of “essential personnel” were inside Tropicana Field, located in St. Petersburg as the storm hit. Footage showed the swaths that serve as the domed building’s roof were completely tattered, giving a clear line of sight inside the stadium.
The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Florida appeared to have dodged a “worst-case scenario” during Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm before passing over the state.
Milton, which formed in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with 185 mph winds several days before it slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast about 50 miles south of Tampa. But as the storm neared Florida, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) downgraded the system to a Category 3.
“What we know for sure is we avoided that worst-case scenario that we were planning for,” FEMA Director Deanne Criswell told CNN on Thursday morning. “But the fact that they prepared for the worst really made sure that they were able to respond to the impacts that they have experienced, and the biggest ones right now are the tornadoes that have been reported across the state.”
President Joe Biden said on Oct. 10 that those impacted by the hurricane should not leave where they are.
“To everyone impacted by Hurricane Milton: I urge you stay inside and off the roads. Downed power lines, debris, and road washouts are creating dangerous conditions,” he posted on X.
"Help is on the way, but until it arrives, shelter in place until your local officials say it’s safe to go out."
More than 100 residents at an assisted living facility in Tampa were rescued following the hurricane.
“This is extraordinary to see this type of flooding, especially in this type of area. The University of South Florida area is normally a dry area,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in a video. “To see this unprecedented flooding, I can only imagine how scary it was.”
- Hurricane Milton made landfall at Siesta Key, Florida as a Category 3 storm, but weakened more than expected after it touched down. Ninety minutes after landfall, it had slowed to Category 2, and crossed into the Atlantic as a Category 1 on Thursday morning.
- At least 10 people have died as a result of the storm, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Tampa Bay International Airport experienced “minimal damage” as a result of the hurricane, according to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
It is expected to reopen on Oct. 11, he said.
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Toriche said that although the damage from the hurricane was not as bad as anticipated, he asked residents not to return home just yet.
“My ask is please don’t rush home. Right now, we’re still trying to assess what’s going on,” Troche said in a video posted on X. “We still have downed power lines, we still have trees in the roadway.”
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.—As residents awoke to clear skies the day after Hurricane Milton tore through Southwest Florida, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office was out surveilling the area for preliminary damage estimates.
“We have sustained a lot of damage, flooding damage, especially in our Punta Gorda area and, of course, our bridges, barrier islands, Manasota Key, the Gulf Cove area,” Charlotte County public information officer Chris Hall told The Epoch Times.
Officials are still out assessing damage and looking for downed trees and power lines, using boats in areas that are flooded.
TAMPA—The sun returned to the skies above Tampa the morning after Hurricane Milton cut through, revealing to many returning residents that the piles of uncollected debris had barely moved.
Hurricane-force winds descended upon the Tampa Bay region Wednesday night. In St. Petersburg, they tore the roof off of Tropicana Field, and brought a giant construction crane crashing down.
The National Weather Service offices in Miami, Tampa Bay and Melbourne issued a record number of tornado warnings in Florida in a single day on Oct. 9. The most warnings (55) were issued for Miami.
Hurricane Ian set the previous record in 2022.
There were no tornados in Tampa Bay, but there were in Lee and Highland Counties, the Tampa Bay NWS office told The Epoch Times.
President Joe Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke over the phone on Oct. 10 morning, according to the White House.
“@POTUS just spoke to @GovRonDeSantis and @FEMA_Deanne about the impacts of Hurricane Milton on the people of FL,” posted White House senior deputy press secretary Emilie Simons on X.
“Gov. DeSantis said they are still assessing the damage across the state & thanked POTUS for the extensive Federal support to prepare for and respond to the storm. The President reiterated that he will provide any support the state needs to speed response and recovery. FEMA Administrator Criswell will survey the impacts with the Governor this morning,” she wrote.
Hurricane Milton hit Florida hard on Wednesday evening, but Gov. Ron DeSantis noted that the storm surges from Hurricane Helene were worse.
Surges from Milton reached between 8 and 10 feet in Sarasota, while surges for Hurricane Helene climbed 15 to 20 feet in Taylor County, he said.
“The storm was significant, but thankfully, this was not the worst case scenario. The storm did weaken before landfall.”
Pinellas County has reopened after shutting down following the hurricane.
“Access to the Pinellas County mainland and our barrier islands has been reopened, but there are a lot of hazards on the road, including downed power lines, trees and inoperable traffic lights,” posted the county on X.
“Don't get yourself into a dangerous situation or slow down crews from restoring safe travel,” the county said.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has issued a warning: Do not go to areas that have been flooded as a result of the hurricane.
“Dangerous floodwaters are present in many areas due to impacts from Hurricane #Milton. TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN! Floodwaters are NEVER safe. They can hide many hazards like the ones below & many more,” posted the agency on X.
Pinellas County has been blocked off due to hazardous conditions following the hurricane, announced the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on X. All access points are closed until further notice.
"The barrier islands will [remain] closed," the sheriff's office said.
The county, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Helene just a couple weeks ago, includes St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said 48 people had been rescued overnight after Hurricane Milton swept through the state.
During a Thursday morning briefing, he said the hurricane was significant but the worst case scenario “did not happen.”
DeSantis said, “We will better understand the extent of the damage as the day progresses.”
Multiple deaths have been reported in Florida from tornadoes, spawned by Hurricane Milton, that ripped through the state, downing buildings and trees and leaving millions without power.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office confirmed four people in the county were killed after numerous tornadoes struck the area in quick succession, wreaking devastation.
The National Hurricane Center posted an update at 5 a.m. ET on Oct. 10 saying Hurricane Milton had passed out to sea close to the U.S. Space Force station at Cape Canaveral.
The NHC said Milton was moving northeast out over the Atlantic Ocean and was forecast to move away from Florida and pass to the north of the Bahamas later on Friday.
They advised, “Damaging hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, will continue for a few more hours in east-central and northeastern Florida. Residents are urged to remain in an interior room and away from windows.”
The National Hurricane Center's 4 a.m. ET update said Hurricane Milton was passing over the location of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
The NHC said maximum sustained winds were 85 mph, with a gust of 92 mph being reported at a Weatherstem station in Marineland, north of Daytona Beach.
Hurricane Milton has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm as it heads east across Florida, leaving more than 3 million properties without power.
At 2 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center said the eye of the hurricane was 40 miles south of Orlando, traveling east-northeast at a speed of 16 mph.
The NHC said Hurricane Milton was expected to pass over the Atlantic coast around daybreak on Thursday.
More than 2 million homes and businesses across Florida are without power as Hurricane Milton continues to batter the state, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports.
The hardest-hit areas include Hardee County, along with neighboring Sarasota and Manatee counties, where the storm has caused widespread outages.
A boil water notice is in effect for all of St. Petersburg after the city shut down potable water services at midnight due to a water main break caused by Hurricane Milton.
The mayor’s office said residents should boil water for all drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth until repairs are completed and water safety is confirmed.
The break, which threatens to worsen if not addressed, has already caused low pressure and service interruptions in some areas.
Large sections of the fabric covering the Tropicana Field stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, were ripped off by Hurricane Milton on Wednesday night.
Residents and local media shared images and videos of the damage.
Despite the lifted roofing, initial reports indicate that the overall structure of the stadium and its roof has not suffered significant harm.
The National Hurricane Center has lifted the storm surge warning for areas north of the Anclote River, which is located just north of Tarpon Springs.
Despite this change, dangerous storm surges remain a threat for Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and the Florida east coast from Sebastian Inlet to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.
The National Weather Service said late Wednesday night that the storm continues to pose significant threats, particularly in central Florida, where flash flood emergencies have expanded across the I-4 corridor that runs from Tampa to Orlando.
The entire Tampa Bay region continues to be under a flash flood warning as Hurricane Milton moves inland, bringing more than 16 inches of rain to parts of the region.
As of 10 p.m. ET, heavy rains and hurricane-force winds batter the Tampa Bay area, with gusts reaching up to around 105 mph. Similar conditions are reported in nearby areas like Bartow.
At its center, located 20 miles northeast of Sarasota, the storm has reached maximum sustained winds of 110 mph.
Hurricane Milton continues to bring life-threatening conditions as it moves inland along Florida's west coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.
By 9 p.m. ET, the hurricane’s center was about 5 miles north of Sarasota and 105 miles southwest of Orlando, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph.
The storm is moving northeast at 15 mph.
Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, on Wednesday evening as a powerful Category 3 storm, unleashing a life-threatening storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding across the central Florida peninsula.
The National Hurricane Center reported that the hurricane’s eye crossed the coastline around 8:30 p.m. ET, with sustained winds of 120 mph. Meteorologists have warned residents in the area to brace for dangerous conditions as the storm moves inland.
Officials have urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate immediately, warning of the potential for catastrophic flooding and widespread damage from storm surge.
TAMPA–The entire Tampa Bay region is under a flash flood warning as conditions worsen ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall to the south.
Affected cities include Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Manatee, Brandon, and Oldsmar.
TAMPA—Hurricane Milton is closing in on landfall according to The National Hurricane Center.
By 8 p.m. ET on Oct. 9, the storm’s center was 20 miles west-southwest of Sarasota, Florida, boasting winds of 120 mph and moving east-northeast at 15 mph.
On its current track, Milton will make landfall just south of Tampa Bay within the next hour or two, move across the peninsula overnight, and enter the Atlantic Ocean on Oct. 10. It is then expected to continue to weaken and become a post-tropical cyclone within the next 36 hours.
TAMPA—Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed that Hurricane Milton is "in the process of making landfall" in Sarasota County just after 7:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 9.
Milton is still a major hurricane with 120 mph winds, but is showing signs of weakening as it moves across the state.
“At this point, it's too dangerous to evacuate safely,” he said. “So you have to shelter in place and just hunker down.”
The Oct. 11 preseason game between the Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans has been canceled due to the hurricane.
“The safety of our community and fans is our top priority,” said the Magic in a statement posted on X.
The NBA team said the game at Kia Center will not be rescheduled.
Florida is prepared for the hurricane, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Everything we’ve asked for, we’ve gotten. We’re working constructively with President Biden, we’ve marshaled all state agencies and we’re working very constructively with our local partners,” he told CBS News.
“We know what we’re doing here in Florida,” he continued. “We prepare for it. Floridians can rest assured: You’re going to have a very robust response. We’ve been ramping up for this.”
More than 3 inches of rain have fallen in Tampa in the past few hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Hurricane Milton has hit Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center, with winds at 120 mph.
This includes Bradenton, where winds are extreme, according to live footage.
“The northern eyewall of Hurricane Milton is now spreading ashore in the Tampa/St. Petersburg metro area where an Extreme Wind Warning is now in effect,” posted NHC on X.
There are 293,524 Floridians without power as of 7 p.m. ET, according to PowerOutage.us.
More than 39,000 are without power in Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located. In Palm Beach County, that number is 21,540, while in Manatee and Polk Counties, 14,912 and 12,602 customers are, respectively, without power.
TAMPA—Hurricane Milton’s northern eyewall started to spread onshore of Florida’s Gulf Coast just south of Tampa Bay, at 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 9.
Just 35 miles west-southwest of Sarasota, Milton has begun its onshore run as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.
The National Weather Service issued an extreme wind warning for residents in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
TAMPA—As Hurricane Milton’s landfall inches closer, the National Hurricane Center warned people on Florida’s Gulf Coast that the storm surge threat is about to get underway with water levels rising rapidly.
“In the next few hours, we're expecting a large area of destructive storm surge with inundation of 10 feet or greater above ground level along portions of the West Central Coast of the Florida peninsula,” said National Hurricane Center director Michael Brennan during a 5:45 p.m. briefing.
As much as nine feet of storm surge is still expected in Tampa Bay, and as much as 13 feet of surge could hit the coastline of Sarasota between Anna Maria and Boca Grande.
The Florida branch of the National Weather Service has issued 133 tornado warnings, the agency posted on X.
There were 49 such warnings issued each for Miami and Tampa and 35 for Melbourne.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration detected a 28.12-foot wave with winds as high as 75.96 mph on Wednesday—all 40 nautical miles from the eye of Hurricane Milton.
NOAA posted the discovery on X.
President Joe Biden provided an update on Hurricane Milton, which is expected to hit Florida’s west coast late Wednesday. Speaking from the White House late afternoon, Biden warned that the storm is expected to be the most destructive in more than a century.
“Currently, Milton is a category 3 with wind speeds up to 220 miles per hour. But no one should be confused,” Biden said. “It's still expected to be one of the most and worst destructive hurricanes to hit Florida in over a century.”
Biden said storm surge is still expected to be up to 13 feet, hence urged Floridians “to listen to local officials and follow all the safety instructions.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday responded to claims on social media suggesting that federal officials will not allow residents back in their homes after Hurricane Milton, which is now a Category 1 storm and is expected to move east over the Atlantic Ocean later Thursday.
The governor denied those claims, saying that his administration is in charge of the hurricane response, not the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It’s not clear where those rumors originated.
“We live in an era where if you put out crap online, you can get a lot of people to share it and you can monetize that. That’s just the way it is,” DeSantis told the news conference, adding that “in the state of Florida none of that stuff would ever fly.”
Officials in Florida have warned of the fire danger posed by electric vehicles (EVs) that are inundated by floodwaters as Hurricane Milton began its assault on the Sunshine State on Oct. 9.
“You can put your electric vehicles up high,” Castor said in the press conference. “Make sure you are elevating all those electric batteries and electric items as well because those batteries—once they start on fire—they cannot be extinguished.”
The National Hurricane Center lifted the hurricane watch for several areas in Florida as Hurricane Milton showed some signs of weakening late Wednesday afternoon.
The affected areas are Dry Tortugas Island, the east coast of Florida north of Ponte Vedra Beach up to the mouth of the St. Marys River, and Florida’s west coast from Chokoloskee to the south of Bonita.
The tropical storm watch north of Edisto Beach has also been canceled.
TAMPA, Fla.—Millions of displaced evacuees are bunkered inland. And more than 50,000 electrical linemen; 34 search-and-rescue teams; and thousands of National Guard soldiers, law enforcement officers, and first responders from more than 20 states are entrenched, poised to face a monster unlike any seen in Florida for decades.
As of mid-afternoon Oct. 9, the outer bands of Hurricane Milton were battering central Florida with increasingly heavy rains and thunderstorms sprouting strings of tornado alerts, the opening salvos of what will be a long night’s journey to a day that dawns on a violently reshaped landscape.
Milton at 7 p.m. was a category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of 120 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) expected Milton to make landfall as an “extremely dangerous major hurricane” sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight somewhere in southern Sarasota County, about 40 miles south of Tampa Bay.
TAMPA—More Than 120,000 power outages were reported in Florida by 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
But even though Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast, most of the outages are currently on the east coast.
Indian River County holds the highest percentage of total utility customers without power, with over 17,000 outages, according to poweroutage.us.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell will travel to Florida on Wednesday to lead the agency’s response to Hurricane Milton.
At a news conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, Criswell told reporters that FEMA’s regional administrator, Robert Saaman, would remain there to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
“I want to assure the people of North Carolina that while we watch Hurricane Milton approach the coast of Florida, you can be assured that no resources are going to be taken from North Carolina,” Criswell said.
TAMPA—Hurricane Milton weakened to a Category 3, according to the National Hurricane Center.
With its eye spotted 100 miles southwest of Tampa as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the storm’s maximum sustained winds had reduced to 125 mph.
However, tropical-storm-force conditions still extend into the Florida Peninsula, with a mesonet site in Fort Myers Beach recording a gust of 68 mph.
TAMPA—While Hurricane Milton still hasn’t made landfall on Florida’s west coast, its outer bands have spread across the state, causing flash flooding in St. John’s County in Northeast Florida.
The National Weather Service office in Jacksonville issued the flash flood warning after receiving reports of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall of up to 6 inches in the area. It also said that “flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.”
Spotted near St. Augustine shores, areas affected by this flash flooding will be Hastings, Elkton, Spuds, and Dupont Center.
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Tampa on Wednesday rescued a dog that was left tied to a fence off I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd.
The troopers found the dog as floodwater had risen to its chest in the deluge of rain brought on by Hurricane Milton.
“Do NOT do this to your pets please,” FHP Tampa said in a post on X.
Hurricane Milton is projected to make landfall in the Tampa area late Wednesday, in what Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said will be the “storm of the century.”
Milton is expected to bring violent storm surges with flooding as high as 15 feet in some areas.
The National Weather Service sent out a shelter-in-place warning at 2:07 p.m. on Wednesday to Floridians bracing for the impact of Hurricane Milton.
The warning was issued as wind speeds have increased, causing several tornadoes to spring up across the Florida West Coast. Milton is bearing down on the state as a Category 4 hurricane with wind forces of 130 mph.
The shelter-in-place guidance also means that the time for evacuation assistance has passed in many areas, as emergency workers will now take time to tend to their own families and ride out the storm.
U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell responded to a question during a Wednesday White House press briefing about online misinformation pertaining to the agency’s hurricane response efforts.
She said some people in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene are afraid to approach FEMA’s staff to ask for assistance “because they are unsure of what the government is doing.”
During a White House press briefing on Wednesday, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Deanne Criswell said the “entire federal family” is standing by and ready to respond to areas impacted by Hurricane Milton.
“I want to deliver a very important message to the people of Florida, this is going to be a catastrophic storm. It is going to be a potentially deadly storm. Please listen to your local officials, as they will be giving you the best information about what you need to do where you are located,” Criswell said.
She said Milton is expected to bring deadly storm surge, intense winds, flooding, and additional tornadoes after portions of South Florida witnessed multiple spinning throughout various counties during the morning and afternoon.
The National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday afternoon that Hurricane Mlton is “growing in size” as it approaches Florida’s West Coast. The storm is currently a Category 4 hurricane, with a maximum wind force of 130 mph.
Milton is moving north-northeast at around 16 mph and is expected to be “an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast.”
The report, issued at 2 p.m., said “life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding rains” are expected across central and southwest Florida.
The storm surge from Hurricane Milton has begun to arrive along Florida’s southwest coast hours before it is set to make landfall.
Footage from the National Weather Service showed the waves rolling in at Naples Pier on Wednesday afternoon and the water levels steadily rising at what should have been low tide.
High tide will be at 7:20 p.m.
As cell services are inevitably interrupted while Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida today, certain Apple iPhone users can still send text messages and contact emergency services via satellite without a WiFi connection.
The feature is available in iPhone 14, 15, and 16 models equipped with Apple’s iOS 18 operating system.
To enable satellite messaging, users first need to go to Settings, then General, and Update to ensure the phone is updated with the latest software. Users also need to enable iMessage before going out of range.
Florida’s chief financial officer warned that Hurricane Milton could cause damage totaling as much as $20 billion in the state as the Category 4 storm continues to churn toward the Florida Gulf Coast.
Milton is forecast to strike near the Tampa Bay area late on Oct. 9 or early on Oct. 10, according to forecast models from the National Hurricane Center. While it has weakened from a Category 5, officials say the storm is expected to hit the state as a major hurricane, meaning a Category 3 or greater.
Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer and fire marshal, told Fox Business that the expected damage depends on the exact location of where the storm makes landfall.
Verizon customers affected by Hurricane Milton will have their call, text, and data usage charges waived starting Wednesday, the company has announced.
The offer, which extends through Oct. 23, will apply to Verizon customers in the following Florida counties: Alachua, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, DeSoto, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia.
The offer will automatically be applied to the accounts of all postpaid consumers and Verizon Small Business customers in the affected areas.
The National Hurricane Center is predicting that Hurricane Milton may make landfall around 11 p.m. on Wednesday evening, meaning it will have less time to weaken before it hits Florida.
The storm “is expected to still be a major hurricane … likely to be a category 3 or 4 strength at landfall,” the report says.
The exact location of landfall is still unclear as the hurricane is “wobbling” on its course, but making landfall at that strength will cause significant damage wherever it lands. It is also expected to do damage outside the predicted cone of effect.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Ruskin updated its tornado warnings for Southeastern Charlotte and North Central Lee Counties, confirming that a “large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Palmona Park, or near Fort Myers, moving north at 25 mph.”
“This is a particularly dangerous storm. Take cover now!” NWS Ruskin wrote, mostly in all capital letters.
Authorities said that homes, businesses, and vehicles could face “considerable damage” or “complete destruction” from the tornado. It was moving toward Cape Coral at roughly 12:45 p.m.
TAMPA—The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) began closing Tampa Bay Area bridges just after noon on Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
FHP Tampa posted on X that both directions of the Sunshine Skyway and the Howard Franklin bridges, as well as westbound lanes of the Gandy Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway, are now closed to all traffic—meaning all bridge access to Pinellas County and Gulf Coast is closed.
President Joe Biden urged Floridians in Hurricane Milton’s path to follow the safety instructions of local officials as the storm nears landfall.
“It’s looking like the storm of the century,” Biden warned in a live broadcast from the Oval Office on Wednesday.
“I know it’s really tough to leave behind your home, your belongings, everything you own, but I urge everyone in Hurricane Milton’s path to follow all safety instructions as we head to the next 24 hours. It’s a matter of—literally—a matter of life and death.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) in both Ruskin and Miami issued tornado warnings at roughly 12 p.m. on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton’s bands tore into South Florida.
“At 12:01 PM EDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Brighton Seminole Reservation, or 7 miles north of Lakeport, moving northwest at 25 mph,” according to NWS Ruskin.
The tornadic thunderstorm is expected to remain over mainly rural portions of southern Highlands County, including Archbold, Placid Lakes, Brighton, and Cornwell.
Winds from Hurricane Milton are at 145 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center during an update at 11 a.m. ET. This makes it a Category 4 hurricane.
The hurricane has been moving northeast at 17 mph.
There are also reports of tornados in parts of southern Florida.
Vice President Kamala Harris cautioned against price gouging and fraud in the wake of Hurricane Milton.
“Let us all be clear: Americans impacted by a crisis should never be ripped off,” she said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
Harris earlier this year said that she intends to impose the first federal ban on price gouging for food, should she win the presidential election in November.
TAMPA—Florida’s Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue warned residents that road conditions will begin to deteriorate, and key bridges will soon be closed.
“We will be deactivating emergency shoulder use at noon today, and we have to begin to demobilize the signs and the people because conditions will begin deteriorating very quickly,” he said during a press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis on Oct. 9 in the state emergency operations center.
“We expect bridges and causeways to begin closing early to mid-afternoon today,” Perdue added, specifically citing Tampa Bay Area bridges like the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Courtney Campbell Causeway.
Officials in Florida issued stark warnings to would-be looters during Hurricane Milton that they could get shot or arrested.
“Florida will not stand for looting—we will not stand for it. We will come after you,” Mark Glass, commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, told reporters on Wednesday morning.
TAMPA—As final preparations for Hurricane Milton are completed, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took a moment to thank 20 states for providing resource assistance.
“Florida now has the LARGEST staging of power restoration linemen in state history ready to go following Hurricane Milton, with over 50,000 personnel & accompanying equipment,” the governor’s communications director, Bryan Griffin, said on X.
While DeSantis did not mention those states by name—except to reiterate that some of the 50,000 linemen have come all the way from California—the governor outlined the out-of-state contributions to the Sunshine State.
TAMPA–With Hurricane Milton just more than 12 hours away, Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis told residents that there is still time to evacuate and plenty of shelter space remains available.
“You still have time to make the decision to ensure your safety,” the governor said. “You do not have to get on the interstate and drive to Georgia. You don't have to drive to Pensacola. You can go to a local shelter, which would be likely 10s of miles away.”
DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, executive director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, announced that 149 general population shelters are open across the state. They can accommodate more than 200,000 residents, and as of 10 a.m. on Oct. 9, the total shelter population was approximately 31,000 people.
A tornado has crossed I-75, according to the Miami-South Florida branch of the National Weather Service.
“TORNADO crossing I-75 as we speak! Seek shelter NOW!” the agency posted on X.
Hurricane Milton is the “storm of the century,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
“Clock’s ticking. The time to get out, that window is narrowing, and there is going to be a point very soon where you won't be able to get out,” she said at a press conference Wednesday.
Castor went on to say that transportation, shelters, and gas stations are available to those evacuating.
Officials in Sarasota County posted on Facebook Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, warning locals to evacuate if they could, as the area will be hit hard.
Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi cautioned residents not to rely on past hurricane experience.
“We don't have anything to compare it to, because the last time we had a hurricane with this kind of impact, it was in the 1940s–80 years ago. So anything that you're comparing it to is not going to be relevant for this situation,” she said.
Hurricane Milton is clinging tight to its status as a major hurricane as it spins its way toward Florida. Here’s what to know:
- Milton is a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of 120 miles per hour.
Researchers with the USGS noted that 95 percent of Florida’s western coast sandy beaches are going to be “continuously covered by ocean water” as Milton slams into the state later Wednesday.
“This is the most severe level of coastal change,” the agency warned on Monday.
Time is running out to evacuate for those in areas projected to be impacted by Hurricane Milton, warned the Florida Division of Emergency Management Wednesday morning.
“9AM, 10/9: Now is your last chance to evacuate in response to #Milton. There are 155 shelters open throughout the state, including 7 state-operated facilities,” the agency posted on X with a link to a list of shelters.
A tornado watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for parts of Florida until 9 p.m. ET. Wednesday.
The affected areas include Tampa Bay, Miami, Cape Coral, Sarasota, Key Largo, Bonita Springs, Jupiter Farms, and North Port.
The warning was issued as Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall overnight on Oct. 9.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) gave an update at 8 a.m. (ET) on Oct. 9, and said Hurricane Milton had weakened slightly and was now a Category 4 storm.
It said the storm system was moving northeast across the Gulf of Mexico at 16 mph.
The NHC said, "On the forecast track, the center of Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico today, make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida late tonight or early Thursday morning."
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said, in an advisory published at 4 a.m. (ET) on Oct. 9, "Milton has been maintaining its strength as a catastrophic category 5 hurricane over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico."
The maximum sustained winds are near 160 mph, with higher gusts.
They said satellite and doppler radar images indicated it had a, "compact, symmetric, and very powerful inner core."
Hurricane Milton remains a powerful Category 5 storm which is expected to make landfall in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area later on Wednesday or in the early hours of Thursday.
The National Hurricane Center posted an update at 4 a.m. (ET) on Oct. 9, saying, "Milton remains a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane ... forecast to make landfall on the Florida gulf coast late tonight as a dangerous major hurricane."
The Tampa Bay area has a population of around 3.3 million, making it the second-most populous in the state after the Miami area.
Floridians were scurrying on Oct. 8 to prepare for a second devastating hit in as many weeks. But this time they expected a storm unlike any the hurricane-hardened residents in the central swath of the state have seen in 20 years.
With Hurricane Milton barreling toward a projected Tampa Bay-area landfall—the first in a century—residents in coastal evacuation zones still inundated by Hurricane Helene’s sideswipe were being urged to flee.
But the main escape routes, Interstate 75–running from the bottom of the state to the top and beyond–and Interstate 4, which stretches across the state, intermittently left drivers at a standstill for miles.
Meteorologist Christianne Jordon Pearce took to X on Tuesday evening to demonstrate the real danger of what she called an “historic, life-threatening storm surge.”
Standing next to a pole in front of the National Weather Service building, she used three arrows to demonstrate the actual height of flood surges from Helene at 7 feet, and predicted surges from Milton at 10 and 15 feet.
She then cautioned viewers that those trapped in flooded areas might have to escape to an attic, and that they should bring an axe in case they needed to cut their way out onto the roof.
Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld Orlando will shut down operations in anticipation of Hurricane Milton, starting Wednesday.
Universal Studios and SeaWorld have also announced that their parks will remain closed on Thursday, with Disney likely to follow suit.
"We will consider opening Disney Springs on Thursday in the late afternoon, with limited offerings," the company said in a statement.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has warned people to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton as ports and bridges are set to close.
"You've heard how evacuations happen here. Get out of the storm surge area, get to a place of safety. We need access to remain for all our facilities," FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue said during a press conference.
Already, the Ports of Key West, Tampa Bay, St. Pete, and SeaPort Manatee have been closed waterside, according to FDOT.
Officials in St. Petersburg, Florida, are warning of the safety hazards posed by local construction cranes as Hurricane Milton threatens the state's west coast.
“Wind gusts of 100+ mph could exceed the safe limits for tower cranes, posing a risk of malfunction,” officials advised via the city's X account, sharing a map of areas where cranes are currently in place.
Construction sites to avoid include 400 Central Ave., 275 1st Ave., 1000 1st Ave N., and 101 Main St. N.
Tampa Bay's sports teams have been impacted by the hurricane soon making landfall.
The Buccaneers left Tampa Bay on Oct. 8 morning as the NFL team will be playing in New Orleans against the Saints.
The Lightning's preseason has come to an end as the NHL team's game against the Nashville Predators has been canceled.