Hurricane Milton has made a significant impact on Florida, marking a tough period for residents facing back-to-back storms. As the fifth hurricane to hit the United States this year, Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a dangerous Category 3 storm at 8:30 pm ET, before being downgraded to Category 2 later in the evening.

As of midnight ET, the National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Milton is continuing to push damaging winds inland, affecting regions like Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Myers. The storm's eye is moving east across central Florida, with secondary bands of severe weather continuing to impact the Tampa Bay area. Tampa International Airport recorded sustained winds of 58 mph, with gusts reaching up to 93 mph. At this time, the storm is approximately 60 miles south-southwest of Orlando and about 85 miles west-southwest of Cape Canaveral, with maximum sustained winds measured at 100 mph.

Despite Milton's downgrade to a Category 2 hurricane, its extensive reach continues to pose threats across central Florida, with secondary outer bands expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain for hours. Additionally, reports indicated that tropical storm-force winds have engulfed much of the state, with wave heights reaching up to 28 feet at sea.

Emergency services sheltered

Orlando police and fire personnel have been pulled off the roads due to high winds from Hurricane Milton. As wind speeds have surpassed 40 mph, crews are instructed to shelter in place. The city announced they will respond to calls for service once conditions improve, urging residents to remain sheltered.

Power outages and emergency services

Approximately 2 million homes and businesses in Florida were without power. Florida Power & Light Company reported the highest number of outages, affecting nearly 460,000 customers, while Duke Energy reported over 430,000 outages. The company warned residents to brace for extended power interruptions due to the unprecedented conditions. Emergency services in the city had to be suspended due to the hazardous conditions created by Milton's over 100 mph winds, which are making it unsafe for first responders to operate. 

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AFP
Streets flooded after Hurricane Milton hits Fort Myers in Florida | Photo: AFP

Drinking water shut off

St Petersburg, Florida, will shut off its drinking water supply at midnight due to a significant water line break as Hurricane Milton impacts the area. This break will affect potable water services throughout the entire city. The water supply will remain off until necessary repairs can be conducted, which will commence once it is safe for crews to work outside.

In light of this situation, the city has issued a boil water notice for all drinking water, which includes water used for cooking and dental hygiene, until further notice. After the water system is restored, additional testing will be performed to ensure the safety of the water before the boil water notice is lifted .

Fatalities

Tragically, confirmed fatalities have been reported in St Lucie County, where tornadoes struck before and during Milton's approach. A 100% rescue mode is in progress with local law enforcement and Florida National Guard assisting victims. The storm had caused substantial damage, particularly to mobile homes, with around 125 homes destroyed. Fatalities have been confirmed following a tornado that struck a mobile home retirement community in St Lucie County on Florida's eastern coast. Approximately 200 personnel from both state and local agencies are currently engaged in search and rescue operations to locate individuals who may be trapped within the community.

Flooding

A flash flood emergency was issued for the Tampa Bay area, including the cities of Tampa, St Petersburg, and Clearwater. Reports indicated that St. Petersburg received about 16.6 inches of rain on Wednesday, contributing to widespread flooding. Parts of Venice, located about 18 miles from Sarasota, were underwater, with video footage showing roads submerged nearly up to street signs.

Federal response

In response to the storm, President Joe Biden noted the pre-deployment of thousands of federal personnel, including more than 1,000 Coast Guard members, to assist affected regions. The president referred to Hurricane Milton as "the storm of the century" and urged residents to heed evacuation orders.

Rays’ stadium roof damaged

The fabric roof over the home of baseball's Tampa Bay Rays was ripped to shreds after Hurricane Milton came ashore in Florida on Wednesday night, bringing wind gusts exceeding 100 mph and flooding parts of the state.

The Rays’ stadium was not being used as a shelter, but the Tampa Bay Times reported that it was being used as “a staging site for workers” who were brought to the area to deal with the storm’s aftermath. The Rays had previously announced that they were “working with state and local emergency management partners ... to aid efforts for debris removal.”

The stadium opened in 1990 and initially cost $138 million. It is due to be replaced in time for the 2028 season with a $1.3 billion ballpark.

An NBA preseason game in Orlando between the Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans, scheduled for Friday, was canceled even before Milton hit the state. The game will not be rescheduled.

AP + Agencies