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Florida residents in the path of Hurricane Milton were told to shelter in place as a major storm battered the state.
The hurricane made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key in Sarasota County early Wednesday night, bringing destructive tornadoes, 28-foot waves, high winds, heavy rain and storm surge to multiple areas.
The National Weather Service had issued 111 tornado warnings as of 9:30pm UK time, breaking the previous record set in 2017.
More than 2.8 million customers were without power across the Sunshine State, according to Outage Tracker PowerOutage.US.
After making landfall, Milton weakened to a Category 1 hurricane, but officials warned the threat to life remained until Thursday.
The National Hurricane Center said Milton would be “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record in central and central Florida.”
Joe Biden called on Floridians to heed local officials and prepare for the “storm of the century.”
Vice President Kamala Harris warned that even the most hardy Floridians cannot survive the “historic” hurricane.
sarasota police Police Chief Rex Troche told CNN Wednesday that officers will remain on the streets until winds in Milton exceed 45 mph.
“If people need help, we won’t be able to go to them,” he said.
Approximately 3 million homes and businesses in Florida were without power.
According to Poweroutages.us, approximately 3 million electricity customers are currently without power.
Approximately 2.94 million customers are without power, with the worst of the power outages in central and central Florida.
More than 97% of Hardy County customers are without power.
Areas along the Midwest coast are hardest hit, with Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota, Pasco and Manatee counties accounting for more than half of all power outages in the state.
james riddellOctober 10, 2024 08:50
See in photos: Collapsed crane and stadium roof ripped off – Hurricane Milton damage revealed
james riddellOctober 10, 2024 08:35
‘Flash flood emergency’ declared for parts of central and central Florida
james riddellOctober 10, 2024 08:19
Map: Hurricane Milton moving across Florida
Milton continues to march east-northeast across central Florida, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds.
The storm will enter the Atlantic Ocean by sunrise Thursday morning.
After weakening to a Category 1 hurricane, it is now located in the Orlando metropolitan area.
Milton made landfall Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane south of Tampa Bay near Siesta Key, Florida.
Stuti MishraOctober 10, 2024 08:15
Orlando removes police and firefighters from streets
Law enforcement officers and firefighters were pulled off the road and evacuated in Orlando as wind speeds reached more than 60 miles per hour.
“Once the wind speed decreases, we will be able to respond to calls for help. Residents should continue to evacuate in place,” the city wrote to X.
Stuti MishraOctober 10, 2024 08:00
Multiple cranes collapse in St. Petersburg
The NWS said it received reports of multiple cranes collapsing in St. Petersburg, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Siesta Key, where Milton made landfall.
St. Petersburg Fire and Rescue Services confirmed a collapse late Wednesday about six blocks from the city’s pier. There were no reports of injuries.
The crane was on the site of a 515-foot (157-meter) luxury high-rise under construction, touted as one of the tallest buildings on Florida’s West Coast. It was scheduled to be completed in summer 2025.
Stuti MishraOctober 10, 2024 07:45
WATCH LIVE: Tampa hits flash floods, ‘catastrophic’ winds as Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida
Stuti MishraOctober 10, 2024 07:30
St. Petersburg cuts off drinking water
St. Petersburg city authorities warned residents that a water main failure forced the city to temporarily cut off drinking water supplies in the middle of the night.
The city said residents should boil water for drinking, cooking and brushing their teeth until the system is restored.
Stuti MishraOctober 10, 2024 07:17
Tornado causes ‘multiple deaths’ in St. Lucie
Tornadoes ripped through St. Lucie County, Florida, and the East Coast, leaving multiple people dead early Wednesday, local sheriff’s offices announced.
“We lost some lives,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson told WPBF News. He did not say how many people were killed.
Even before Milton made landfall on the Florida Gulf Coast Wednesday evening, tornadoes were making landfall across the state. Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce on Florida’s Atlantic coast was particularly hard hit, with homes destroyed and some residents killed.
Hurricane-force rain and winds are expected to continue battering Florida through Thursday, after which the storm will move into the Atlantic Ocean.
Stuti MishraOctober 10, 2024 07:00
Taylor Swift donates $5 million to Hurricane Milton relief efforts
Feeding America CEO Claire Babineau-Fontenot announced singer Taylor Swift’s donation to those affected by Hurricanes Helen and Milton in an Instagram post Wednesday. He thanked them for “standing with us in the fight to end hunger and supporting communities in need.”
“We are extremely grateful to Taylor Swift for her generous donation of $5 million to Hurricane Helen and Milton relief efforts,” Babineau Fontenot wrote.
“This donation will help communities rebuild and recover, providing needed food, clean water and supplies to those affected by these devastating storms.”
Stuti MishraOctober 10, 2024 06:50
