Hurricane Milton moved into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after causing widespread devastation across Florida, leaving more than 3 million without power and resulting in four deaths. The storm, which spawned 150 tornadoes, spared Tampa from a direct hit but made landfall late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm in Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the storm as significant but acknowledged it wasn’t the “worst-case scenario.” Despite heavy rain and damage in certain areas, particularly in Sarasota County, Tampa avoided the catastrophic storm surge initially feared.
The flooding in Plant City, just inland from Tampa, was described as “absolutely staggering” by City Manager Bill McDaniel, with emergency teams rescuing 35 people overnight. In Matlacha, a barrier island off Fort Myers, a tornado combined with a storm surge caused significant damage, tearing apart homes and tossing vehicles.
Power outages stretched across the state, with over 3.4 million residents affected. In St. Petersburg, the roof of Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, was shredded by fierce winds, though no injuries were reported. Authorities were conducting door-to-door rescues, with Col. Mark Thieme emphasizing that search-and-rescue efforts were the top priority.
Milton’s impact came just two weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged western Florida, and officials worked quickly to clear debris to prevent further damage. Many areas in Florida remained under storm-surge and tropical storm warnings as the hurricane moved northward, continuing to pose a threat.