On Wednesday night, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a powerful Category 3 storm, striking Siesta Key, a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. The storm unleashed winds of over 120 mph and catastrophic flooding that overwhelmed large parts of the Tampa Bay area. The aftermath has left Florida grappling with widespread devastation, as the storm continues to weaken, now classified as a post-tropical cyclone.
In its wake, Hurricane Milton has claimed the lives of at least 17 people, including five due to tornadoes in St. Lucie County. These grim figures underscore the deadly nature of the storm, which has left millions without power and entire communities facing long recoveries. As residents and first responders confront the scale of destruction, the collective focus is now shifting toward the recovery process.
A Storm of Unprecedented Proportions
One of the most devastating effects of Hurricane Milton was the intense rainfall, particularly in the Tampa Bay area. Meteorologists have classified it as a 1-in-1,000-year event, signifying the exceptional amount of rain the storm unleashed. This rare weather event submerged streets, damaged homes, and flooded businesses, leaving residents to cope with the sheer volume of water that overwhelmed local infrastructure.
Compounding the issue, Milton followed closely on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which struck just weeks earlier, leaving some of the same areas in Florida still vulnerable. The consecutive storms have stretched local resources and resilience to their limits, as emergency responders and utility workers attempt to restore normalcy.
Power Outages
Nearly 48 hours after Hurricane Milton made landfall, more than 1.9 million people in Florida remain without power. At its peak, the storm left over 3 million customers across the state in darkness. Recovery efforts are underway, with Florida Light & Power reporting that electricity has been restored to 1.3 million customers so far, but for many, the lights won’t come back on for days…