(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.
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.
Recovery work begins at Tampa port
Port Tampa Bay staff, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard are working to assess the damage from Milton at the port and reopen shipping channels.
No significant damage to docks has been reported, though some damage to buildings was seen and the port is without power.
Milton forecast to move away from Florida’s east coast today
The National Hurricane Center reports Milton is moving east-northeast at a speed near 20 mph with maximum sustained winds near 80 mph.
Current forecasts show Milton moving away from the east coast of Florida and passing north of the Bahamas today. It is expected to become a post-tropical storm Thursday afternoon or evening.
Bridges to Lido Key and St. Armand’s Key closed
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the twin bridges connecting Sarasota to Lido Key and St. Armand’s Key are unstable and cannot take commuter traffic.
The damage on those islands is extensive with mass flooding reported.
Residents with a driver’s license showing an address in Bird Key are able to cross.
Two fatalities reported in St. Petersburg
City officials in St. Petersburg confirmed two fatalities, NewsNation affiliate WFLA reported. One was a medical-related fatality and the other victim’s cause of death is unknown, though they were found in a park.
More than 3 million without power
As of 10:15 a.m. ET, 3.4 million people are reported to be without power in Florida, according to poweroutage.us.
The White House said President Joe Biden spoke to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday about the impacts of Milton. DeSantis reportedly thanked the president for the federal support offered to prepare for and respond to the storm.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell was also on the call and will be surveying the impacts with DeSantis later in the morning.
Flooding and wind still a threat
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the worst storm surge from Milton was 8-10 feet in the Sarasota area, less than the storm surge from Helene.
However, the governor cautioned that water levels will continue to rise and the risk of flooding is not over.
High winds also continue to pose a problem, with sustained winds of 85 mph reported Thursday morning.
Milton was not ‘worst-case scenario’: DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a Thursday news conference Hurricane Milton’s storm surge does not appear to be as strong as originally feared, but response teams will get a better picture later today.
“This was not the worst-case scenario,” DeSantis said.
Milton pulls away from Florida
The National Hurricane Center reports the center of Milton has moved away from the eastern edge of Florida. It will pass north of the Bahamas later Thursday as the storm loses strength.
Four dead in St. Lucie County
Officials in St. Lucie County say four people died in tornadoes ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall, the AP reports.
Power outages surpass 3.3 million
The number of power outages continues to rise nearly 12 hours post-landfall. More than 3.3 million customers in Florida do not have power as of 8:15 a.m. EDT, according to the utility tracker poweroutage.us.
Hurricane center moving away from Florida’s east coast
The center of Hurricane Milton is moving away from Florida’s east coast, the National Hurricane Center reported at 8 a.m. EDT Thursday. Forecasts predict gradual weakening of the storm as it moves toward the Bahamas, but strong gusty winds and heavy rainfall are still occurring near Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center, about 50 miles east of Orlando.
Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph.
Additional rainfall of 2-4 inches is expected across the east-central and northeast coasts of Florida. Flash and urban flooding remain risks, along with moderate to major river flooding.
Tropical storm conditions are occurring in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and the Bahamas, the NHC reported.
Forecasters warn against dangerous storm surges near the state’s east coast. Meanwhile, the Florida west coast is no longer under a storm surge warning.
Pinellas County access points closed
All access points to Pinellas County in Florida are closed, the sheriff’s office reported early Thursday morning. Conditions are hazardous. The barrier islands will also remain closed.
The cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Seminole and Largo are in Pinellas County.
County officials confirmed to NewsNation affiliate WFLA that they were preparing to evacuate as many as 200 patients at HCA Florida Largo Hospital due to flooding.
NewsNation’s Ryan Bass reports from outside Tampa Bay Rays’ damaged stadium
The roof at Tropicana Field, where the Tampa Bay Rays play, was torn to shreds from Hurricane Milton’s forceful winds and rainfall. NewsNation’s Ryan Bass reports from the sixth floor of his apartment complex, which has a direct view of the stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor gives Hurricane Milton update
“Please, please stay inside,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said during a news conference early Thursday morning.
Hurricane Milton landed late Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, about 70 miles south of Tampa.
While the storm has officially passed through Tampa, Castor urged residents to stay indoors until it is safe for people to leave. Right now, several threats can still harm people, including downed wires, debris and potential flooding.
Castor confirmed Milton caused extensive damage throughout Tampa, including the downing of trees and the loss of power to more than half a million residents.
First responders resumed service when it was safe to do so at around 1:30 a.m. ET. They responded to hundreds of calls that ranged anywhere from downed electrical wires and trees to disconnected alarms.
Castor said the city evaded the predicted storm surge but also noted that the effects of the storm weren’t over yet.
“It’s not over … at 7 a.m. ET, when high tide comes in, rivers are going to flood all over,” Castor warned.
Tropical storm warnings discontinued in Florida Keys
The National Weather Service has discontinued all tropical storm warnings for the Florida Keys, as of 5 a.m. EDT. A coastal flood warning remains for the Upper and Middle Keys, however, and a coastal flood advisory is in effect for the Lower Keys.
Life-threatening storm surge along coast
Rising waters moving inland from the shoreline pose the risk of a life-threatening storm surge affecting Florida’s eastern coast northward to south Georgia, the National Hurricane Center reported. A storm surge warning remains in effect for these areas, as of 5 a.m. EDT.
Some bridges impassable in Sarasota
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reports some bridges in the county are impassable, urging residents to stay home.
Recovery efforts begin in Tampa
The Tampa Police Department has begun recovery efforts. Many roads are still impassable with fallen trees, downed power lines and flooding. Police urge residents to stay off the roads.
Hurricane moving off Florida’s east coast
Milton is moving off the east coast of Florida, the National Hurricane Center reported shortly before 5 a.m. EDT Thursday. The storm is still producing damaging hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall in the eastern and central parts of the state.
Maximum sustained winds are 85 mph, and gradual weakening is expected. All hurricane and tropical storm warnings for the west coast of Florida have been discontinued.
Power outages top 3 million in Florida
Power outages in Florida topped 3 million by 4:30 a.m. EDT, about eight hours after Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in Siesta Key. There are more than 11.5 million power customers in Florida, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks utility reports. The state’s majority of outages are in Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located, with nearly 509,000 customers powerless. Sarasota County, where Milton made landfall, has more than 230,000 outages. Orange County, which includes Orlando, reports nearly 60,000 outages.
NewsNation affiliate WFLA is tracking outages in each county.
Center of Milton nears Cape Canaveral
The hurricane’s center nears Cape Canaveral, the National Hurricane Center announced at 4 a.m. EDT, with strong winds along the east coast of Florida. Cape Canaveral is near the state’s Atlantic Coast about 55 miles east of Orlando. Maximum sustained winds are 85 mph. The hurricane is moving offshore.
Almost 3 million Floridians without power
More than 2.9 million customers don’t have power in Florida, as of 3:30 a.m. EDT, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks utility reports. There are more than 11.5 million power customers in Florida. Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located, has more than 507,400 outages. Sarasota County, where Milton made landfall, has more than 236,440 outages. Orange County, where Orlando is and where Milton’s path is headed, has 41,400 outages.
3 a.m. EDT update: Flash flood emergency continues across Florida
In its 3 a.m. EDT update, the National Hurricane Center announced that flash flood emergencies remain in place for portions of west-central Florida as Milton continues to move across the state.
The eye of the hurricane was about 30 miles south of Orlando with flash flooding, surge and damaging winds and gusts of up to 75 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
SpaceX, Elon Musk accelerate Starlink access in hurricane-affected areas
Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk announced Thursday morning on X that his company SpaceX was working with T-Mobile to activate satellites to provide emergency alerts for all phones and carriers in the hurricane-affected zones in Florida.
NewsNation checks on TikTok user ‘Lieutenant Dan’ who refused to evacuate
TikTok user Joseph “Lieutenant Dan” Malinowski stayed on his boat, despite being urged to evacuate, as Hurricane Milton barreled toward the Florida coast.
NewsNation’s Brian Entin went to check on Malinowski as the hurricane made landfall in Tampa. See the interaction below and read more about Malinowski’s story here.
Rays’ stadium damaged by hurricane
The roof panels over the home of MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays were 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.
It was not immediately clear if there was damage inside Tropicana Field, located in St. Petersburg. Television images showed the swaths that serve as the domed building’s roof were completely tattered, giving a clear line of sight to the lights inside the stadium.
Read more about what happened here.