Aftermath of Hurricane Milton: Eight Confirmed Dead and Millions Without Power
As Hurricane Milton has moved out, the toll it has taken on Florida is becoming painfully clear. Rescue teams worked tirelessly on Thursday, pulling residents from the debris left in the wake of the storm. Milton wreaked havoc on coastal communities, ripping homes apart, flooding streets with mud, and unleashing a series of deadly tornadoes. At least eight fatalities have been reported.
This latest disaster struck just two weeks after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, compounding the suffering of many residents. Milton left more than 3.4 million customers without electricity, flooded barrier islands, ripped the roof off a baseball stadium, and toppled construction equipment across the region.
Among the harrowing rescues was a dramatic operation in Hillsborough County, where officers saved a 14-year-old boy who was found floating on a piece of fence. In another incident, a Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man who had clung to an ice chest in the Gulf of Mexico after his fishing boat was left stranded in the tumultuous waters. The Coast Guard estimated that the man weathered winds between 75 and 90 mph and waves reaching 25 feet during his night at sea.
Hurricane Milton’s Swift Intensification
Hurricane Milton’s rapid intensification before landfall was notable; of the 37 hurricanes to hit Florida since 1950, only Hurricane Wilma in 2005 intensified faster. Milton made landfall late Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane in Siesta Key, located about 70 miles south of Tampa. Although damage was widespread and water levels are expected to rise in the coming days, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis remarked that the situation was not as dire as it could have been.
“Facing two hurricanes in a couple of weeks is no easy task,” DeSantis stated during a briefing in Sarasota. “But I’ve witnessed incredible resilience throughout this state, and I am confident that we will recover quickly.”
Tornadoes and Casualties
Tragically, five of the confirmed fatalities were due to tornadoes that struck the Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce, where homes were demolished. Additionally, authorities reported a woman dead under a fallen tree branch in Tampa. In Volusia County, a 79-year-old woman in Ormond Beach and a 54-year-old woman in Port Orange were also killed by falling trees.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressed the situation at a White House briefing, indicating there were reports of up to ten fatalities due to tornadoes, though he cautioned that these numbers were still provisional.
Ongoing rescue operations have been robust, with Governor DeSantis announcing that at least 340 individuals and 49 pets have been rescued so far.
Personal Stories of Survival and Loss
South of Tampa, residents like Natasha Ducre and her husband, Terry, felt fortunate to have survived the storm. Hurricane Milton stripped the tin roof from their cinder block home in Palmetto, forcing them to seek refuge in a shelter with their three children and two grandchildren. “I told my family we needed to leave, or we wouldn’t make it,” Natasha recounted.
Upon returning, they discovered their belongings ruined and their home in disarray, with the roof scattered across the street and insulation hanging from the exposed beams. “It may not have been much, but it was ours,” Natasha said, reflecting on their loss.
Storm Surge and Flooding
The most significant storm surge appeared to occur in Sarasota County, where it reached 8 to 10 feet—less severe than in the worst-hit areas during Hurricane Helene. The storm also delivered heavy rainfall, with some regions experiencing up to 18 inches.
Officials in severely impacted counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Lee, urged residents to stay home, warning of downed power lines, blocked roads, and ongoing flooding.
Among the numerous tornadoes was a twister that struck the small barrier island of Matlacha, near Fort Myers. The village, known for its fishing and tourism, suffered extensive damage, with many colorful buildings affected. Local resident Tom Reynolds spent the morning clearing out four feet of mud and water from his property, where debris from the tornado had caused significant destruction. “What else can I do but repair the home I built three decades ago?” he said.
Community Response and Recovery Efforts
In contrast, workers on Anna Maria Island were relieved to find their streets relatively clear of floodwaters as they began debris cleanup just weeks after Hurricane Helene had wreaked havoc in the area. “I’m surprised it’s not worse,” city worker Kati Sands remarked, as she collected siding and broken lights.
Helene had already caused significant flooding and resulted in at least 230 deaths across the South, prompting municipalities to act quickly to clear debris before Milton’s winds could exacerbate the situation.
As of Thursday, power was out across much of the state, with reports indicating over 3.4 million homes and businesses were without electricity. The severe winds even shredded the fabric roof of Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, littering the field with debris.
Approximately 80,000 people sought refuge in shelters, with thousands more evacuated due to mandatory orders across 15 Florida counties that collectively house about 7.2 million residents.
In Punta Gorda, a 10-foot surge from the Peace River inundated the historic district, damaging homes and depositing six boats along a riverside street. Local resident Josh Baldwin expressed frustration over the situation, contemplating scrapping his boat instead of spending $100,000 on repairs, given the frequency of hurricanes in the area.
Just a short distance away, Kent and Cathy Taylor were using their SUV to remove waterlogged drywall from the ground floor of their three-story home. Despite the damage, Cathy remained optimistic. “It will be beautiful again—this is just a setback,” she said.
By Thursday afternoon, Hurricane Milton had transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone and was heading into the Atlantic Ocean, with winds still reaching 75 mph.
As Police Chief John Cosby crossed the bridge to Anna Maria Island early Thursday, he felt a sense of relief. Most residents had evacuated, and there were no reported injuries or fatalities in his area. The anticipated storm surge did not materialize, and his police department remained dry. “It’s great to have a place to return to,” he remarked.
This story was first published on October 10, 2024, and updated on October 11, 2024, to correct the last names of a couple whose home was severely damaged. They are Natasha and Terry Ducre, not Shannon. The article was also updated to clarify reports regarding the number of tornadoes, as it is too early to determine an exact count.