Early Wednesday morning, Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, slammed into Florida, causing significant destruction and chaos in an already fragile landscape. Hurricane Milton arrived just weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged those same coastal areas, delivering another devastating blow. With millions left in the dark, cities submerged, and communities still reeling from one bout of back-to-back natural catastrophes, it was a knockout punch most could ill afford to go through again.
Landfall and Early Impacts of Hurricane Michael Initially, forecasters predicted that Hurricane Milton would make landfall directly over Tampa; however, in its final hours, it unexpectedly veered south, striking Siesta Key near Sarasota, approximately 70 miles away from Tampa. The storm had winds of more than 100 mph (160 kph) that caused ruinous damage to both coastal and inland communities.
While Tampa itself escaped direct damage, other surrounding areas did not fare as well. St. Petersburg is a city just across the bay from Tampa, and the rainfall there exceeded 16 inches (41 cm). The result of this heavy rain was tremendous flash flooding—roads turned into rivers, homes submerged under feet of water.
Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, had its fabric roof ripped apart. Televised footage shows that the roof is flapping wildly. The damage inside is unknown, but the home will be changed for a long time.
Tornadoes in Florida and Destruction
Even before Hurricane Milton touched land, the far-reaching storm was already impacting Florida. Reports of tornadoes spread across the state, with the Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce possibly suffering the most severe damage. The destruction of homes, which housed many elderly residents, left people in a state of shock and grief as lives were lost in the chaos.
When it reached the Gulf Coast of Florida, Milton had already claimed several lives. St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed that there were fatalities, but he could not disclose the exact number as officials were still in the process of determining the death toll.
Destruction was rampant. Before the eye of Milton hit land, estimates indicated that it destroyed 125 homes, the majority of which were weak seniors living in mobile home communities. For those who had seen the emotional and economic tear of Hurricane Helene, the impact of Hurricane Milton was merely devastating.
Evacuations, power outages, and resource strain ends
State and local officials instructed millions to evacuate in storm-preparedness orders that warned them of dire consequences should they opt to stay behind. Florida issued mandatory evacuation orders for about 7.2 million people in 15 counties as the storm bore down on the state. Supported by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the state’s emergency management teams said that anyone remaining would be on their own during the worst of the storm when rescue missions will not be available at the height of Hurricane Milton’s fury.
Over 2 million homes and businesses across Florida were without power late Wednesday. They included Hardee, Sarasota, and Manatee counties, among the hardest-hit areas. Along with power outages came fuel shortages; more than 60% of the gas stations in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region ran dry. This added to the burden of those trying to evacuate—the many residents who fled there seeking shelter, only to find out that hotel rooms were unavailable or too expensive.
Governor DeSantis mobilized 9,000 National Guard troops and 50,000 utility workers, including those from California, to aid in the reconstruction process. Governor DeSantis also deployed highway patrol officers to guide gasoline tanker vehicles to the areas most in need of fuel.
Personal Experiences: To evacuate or not
For many Floridians, evacuating was not a priority. The logistics of evacuating a peninsula state like Florida are complex, partly due to the limited number of roads and the limited destinations available for travel. In the case of Sarasota resident Jackie Curnick, this decision was personal as well as practical. With a two-year-old son and a baby due in late October, Curnick said she and her husband debated whether to leave or stay, ultimately deciding to stay. They cited complaints about unaffordable hotel accommodations and unclear evacuation routes.
While Curnick’s fight was in many ways the average Florida citizen’s, uncertainty concerning whether to get out of the city or just stay where he was had taken over. There was hardly any room for error as the waters poured and electricity snapped as the emergency came to a screeching halt.
Milton’s Path of Destruction Continues
Even when downgraded to a Category 2 storm, Hurricane Milton continued its rampage through Florida. Both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts continue to receive storm surge warnings. The rainfall ought to be between 6 and 18 inches, with catastrophic flooding expected along inland river and lake shorelines.
The approach of the storm inland threatened Orlando, the state’s hub city located in central Florida and third-largest city within the state, which has a big population. Despite not being present for the major landfall, people in the area were already jittery, prepared for the worst, and aware that their cities might still experience flooding and power interruptions.
Recovery and the future
In the coming days, Florida will face significant challenges in rebuilding itself. As communities struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene’s damage, the arrival of Hurricane Milton exacerbates their situation. Cleaning will persist; debris from Helene still litters many streets and communities, and this is when Milton’s destruction will wreak havoc.
These are tough times, but the grit of Floridians endures. For instance, Josh Parks, an auto tech, packed up his SUV and headed inland after informing his family that Hurricane Helene had submerged his neighborhood in water. He stated that Milton was not a suitable location to shelter during the storm. Others—including Christian Burke in Gulfport—will stay put in a home built to withstand Category 5 gusts.
Hurricane Milton will likely figure among the worst storms Florida has ever seen. There will be significant involvement in rebuilding and reflection, both from the affected communities and the authorities, regarding the lessons learned from both Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. The state will persist in its efforts to prepare for future storms, striving to lessen the devastating effects that have become all too familiar.
