Additional Coverage:
- Hurricane Milton slams into Florida, the latest blow to homeowners already reeling from Helene’s destruction (newsbreak.com)
Hurricane Milton Strikes Florida’s West Coast
Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida’s west coast on Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm, bringing destructive winds and tornadoes. It’s the second major hurricane to hit the region in two weeks, following Hurricane Helene.
Milton caused widespread damage, including a large tear in the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. A tower crane also collapsed downtown, crashing into a building with a sound like a train wreck.
Evacuations and Power Outages
Floridians rushed to evacuate and secure their homes. Power outages affected over 2.9 million customers as of Thursday morning. Even in areas further from the storm’s eye, tornadoes caused severe damage.
Concerns for the Future
The back-to-back storms have raised concerns about the impact on Florida’s real estate market and the increasing risk of catastrophic weather. Natalie Schwartz, a first-time homeowner, expressed fears about the future of her community, saying, “It’s going to be underwater.”
FEMA Response
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responding to Milton, with 1,000 personnel on the ground and 1,200 more sent for search and rescue. FEMA also launched a fact-checking page to combat misinformation.
However, the agency faces staff shortages and concerns about funding. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell emphasized that funding is currently available for Milton and Helene, but she is assessing if more will be needed later in the hurricane season.