(NewsNation) – Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm, bringing flooding and high winds to Central Florida.
At least 10 storm-related deaths have been reported so far, according to the White House. NewsNation local affiliate WFLA reported that one of those killed was a Polk County employee who was helping with cleanup.
Impacts of Milton ripple across Florida
Authorities reminded residents to continue following instructions from local officials, noting that floodwaters in some areas are forecast to continue rising. They also reminded people that they should allow crews to clear debris rather than trying to do it themselves and to use generators safely if they are needed.
The storm brought 18 inches of rain to the state with a storm surge of eight to 10 feet reported in Sarasota County. Milton rapidly weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moved over land.
Following Hurricane Milton’s landfall, rescue crews have been surveying the damage, with those in north Tampa using airboats to reach people
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said crews have been working hard through the morning to reach those in need of help.
“We had an assisted living facility that had 135 elderly, disabled folks in it that we had to remove,” he told NewsNation’s Brian Entin.
More than 2.5 million homes and businesses remain without power across Florida, according to poweroutage.us, a site that tracks outages across the country. The majority without power are located in the central-western and eastern parts of the state, where Milton’s path passed through.
Officials also reminded people that if their property was damaged from both Helene and Milton, they will need to apply for disaster assistance twice, with separate applications for the damage from each storm.
A dozen tornadoes — and counting
The National Weather Service has confirmed “about a dozen” tornadoes from Milton, and that number will rise, the agency said.
Matthew Elliott, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said many more tornadoes were reported, but it will take time to investigate.
Damage in Tampa
Tampa escaped the predicted storm surge, but the area is still facing flooding, downed trees and power lines and interruptions in power and water service.
The roof of Tropicana Field, home to MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays, was shredded by winds. Multiple cranes were toppled.
FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 09: A person walks through surge waters after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though veering south of the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that’s home to 5,500 people, according to published reports.. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 09: A woman walks through downtown as Hurricane Milton makes landfall on October 09, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though avoiding the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that’s home to 5,500 people, according to published reports. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) 
Heavy rains and powerful winds during Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, US, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida’s west coast near Tampa with tree-snapping winds, pushing a wall of water onshore and putting lives at risk in the densely populated region. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images 
Ron Rook, who said he was looking for people in need of help or debris to clear, walks through windy and rainy conditions on a deserted street in downtown Tampa, Fla., during the approach of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
As of Thursday, MacDill Air Force Base remained closed.
More than 100 residents were also rescued from an assisted living facility in Tampa.
Damage in Sarasota
A storm surge of eight to 10 feet hit the area, bringing dangerous flooding. Officials urge locals to stay put and conserve water while emergency responders assess the damage.
Bridges connecting Sarasota to Lido Key and St. Armand’s Key are unstable and closed to commuter traffic, according to law enforcement. There are reports of extensive damage and mass floods in those areas.
Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert said in a statement that she spoke with President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
Alpert said the call was unexpected and that Biden promised her federal support in the recovery from the storm.
“He understands … it will take a lot from the federal government to help us recover in Sarasota,” Alpert said. “We’re grateful for the support and thank President Biden for reaching out.”
Officials warn of hurricane relief scams
As relief efforts continue, the United States Department of Justice is alerting the public to a rise in scams aimed at exploiting victims of these disasters.
According to the Justice Department, scammers are quick to exploit weather disasters and the people affected by them.
Photos: Florida emerges from Hurricane Milton
NewsNation and NewsNation affiliate WFLA were on the ground as Hurricane Milton ripped across Florida. View photos of the hurricane, recovery and devastation here.
One Floridian reflects on his decision to ride out the storm
Seminole, Florida, resident Harry Berg rode out Hurricane Milton with his family instead of evacuating. However, he told NewsNation’s Markie Martin that if he had to make that decision all over again, he wouldn’t stay.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.
TikTok star ‘Lt. Dan’ survives Hurricane Milton on his boat
Lt. Dan, whose real name is Joseph Malinowski, went viral from videos posted by TikTok user Tampa Terrence, which gained a large following of people who were worried because he refused to evacuate the sailboat where he was living. Like the popular character from “Forrest Gump” who refused to leave his boat during a massive storm, Tampa’s Lt. Dan is missing a leg.
“I’m not going anywhere because the safest place to be is on a boat in a flood,” he said ahead of the storm. “We learned that with Noah. Everyone who stayed on land drowned. Noah and the animals lived.”
Tropicana Field roof shredded by Milton
NewsNation drone footage of the stadium captured the extent of the damage, which made the pitcher mound nearly indistinguishable from debris scattered around the field.
The stadium was functioning as a staging area for storm response crews. Officials relocated to another staging area before the building lost its roof.
Family rescued from roof during rising flood
Trapped resident Amber Henry told NewsNation local affiliate WFLA that the refrigerator in her home started to float, and she and her children sat on an oven and counter to avoid the rising water.
“I called my mom and said I think me and my children are about to drown to death,” Henry said.
28-foot wave captured during Milton
Drone footage captured a monstrous wave inside Hurricane Milton as the powerful storm passed through the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday.
A sailing drone from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) measured the 28-foot wave with wind gusts of 75.98 mph, located approximately 40 nautical miles from the center of Milton.
Who qualifies for FEMA relief?
Once an emergency is declared — like in the case of Hurricanes Milton and Helene — the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can provide various types of aid. Much of what the agency does is give out money in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. What you need to know.
Are more hurricanes heading for Florida? Not at the moment
As Milton exits Florida, the National Hurricane Center continues to monitor another system in the Atlantic, which is not expected to make landfall or come close to the U.S.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. Thursday advisory, Tropical Storm Leslie was about 1,700 miles west-southwest of the Azores, a group of islands in the mid-Atlantic, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
The storm is expected to turn north Thursday night and veer away from the U.S. over the next few days.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
