Anna Maria Island took a big hit from Hurricane Milton.
At 8:30 p.m. Oct. 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota County near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm. Siesta Key is a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, about 30 miles from Anna Maria Island. Another well-known area on Anna Maria Island is Bradenton Beach, Florida. After Hurricane Milton hit land, the tropical system then wreaked havoc across Central Florida before exiting out of Cape Canaveral a day later.
Hurricane Milton brought 8-10 feet of storm surge to Sarasota , destroying more than 100 homes in the area, downing trees and power lines. More than 227,000 customers in Sarasota County were without power the next day – about 76% of the county.
From Sarasota to Cocoa Beach , several cities reported immense devastation following the storm, including damaged buildings, severe flooding and even loss of life . Before Hurricane Milton made landfall, a wave of tropical tornados swept across the state, specifically in Lee County, Palm Beach County, Broward County, St. Lucie County and Brevard County.