Breaking News: Hurricane Milton Leaves Trail of Destruction Across Florida

TNW News Staff Report
October 10, 2024 | 10:55 AM CDT

Siesta Key, FL — Hurricane Milton has devastated Florida, leaving behind widespread destruction after making landfall Wednesday evening near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm. Though now downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane, Milton continues to cause chaos as it moves into the Atlantic.

The storm has claimed at least 10 lives, with millions affected by tornadoes, flooding, and power outages across the state. Emergency officials are working to assess the full scale of the destruction.

Key Developments:

• Landfall & Path: Hurricane Milton struck Siesta Key, located about 70 miles south of Tampa, with winds of 107 mph. The storm unleashed its fury on Venice Beach and surrounding coastal areas. Now a Category 1 hurricane, it is heading north of the Bahamas, with impacts still felt across Florida.
• Tornadoes & Casualties: Tornadoes spawned by Milton have caused widespread devastation, especially in St. Lucie County, where five deaths were reported. Volusia County confirmed three additional fatalities, and two more deaths occurred in St. Petersburg. The heavy rainfall in the region, including more than 18 inches in St. Petersburg, has resulted in catastrophic flooding.
• Power Outages: Over 3.3 million Florida residents are without power, as fallen trees and downed power lines have crippled the electrical grid.
• Flooding: Flash flooding continues to threaten the state, particularly near Cape Canaveral, where floodwaters have submerged homes and destroyed roads. Rescue efforts are underway, with many residents forced to evacuate by boat.

Government Response:

Governor Ron DeSantis spoke Thursday morning, saying, “While the storm surge was not as severe as initially feared, the widespread damage from winds, flooding, and tornadoes will take weeks, if not months, to fully recover from." Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and more than 48 people have been rescued so far. Hospitals in Pinellas County are evacuating patients as floodwaters rise.

Federal Support:

President Joe Biden has deployed federal emergency response teams, including over 1,000 Coast Guard members, to assist in rescue and recovery operations. "Help is on the way," Biden assured, urging Floridians to remain sheltered until the storm has fully passed and it is safe to return outside.

Ongoing Threats:

• Flooding: Despite weakening, Hurricane Milton continues to produce dangerous flash flooding and gusty winds, especially in Cape Canaveral and along the east coast.
• Storm Surge: While the storm surge threat has diminished along Florida’s west coast, areas along the northeast coast remain under storm surge warnings.

TNW News Hurricane Operations Division Update:

Todd Nardone, Chief of TNW's Hurricane Operations Division and General Manager, reiterated TNW News’ commitment to providing live, 24/7 updates via TNWWeather.com, X, Threads, and Instagram. Residents are strongly advised to stay indoors until local authorities provide clearance to safely move around.

For real-time updates, safety tips, and additional resources, visit TNWWeather.com.

Further Resources:

• Hurricane Science and Storm Surge Impacts: Explore the science behind hurricane formation and storm surges with this in-depth paper from the National Hurricane Center.
• Climate Change and Hurricane Patterns: Learn more about how climate change is contributing to the intensification of hurricanes in this report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Stay tuned to TNW News for continuous updates as Hurricane Milton's aftermath unfolds.

This article draws from TNW News reports, NBC News, and TNW News' breaking news team at the TNW News Operations Department.