Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The storm brought strong winds, heavy rain, and a surge of water that flooded communities and caused widespread power outages. According to reports, Milton knocked out power to over 3 million customers, affected thousands of homes, and left at least six people dead.
As the storm made its way across the state, it spawned a number of tornadoes, some of which were particularly destructive. In the small barrier island of Matlacha, a tornado and surge caused significant damage to homes and buildings, with many of the colorful structures sustaining severe damage. The storm was devastating to the area, with emergency crews rescuing 35 people overnight.
The area around Tampa was particularly hard hit, with the city’s airport being closed due to the storm. The Tampa Bay Rays’ home, Tropicana Field, suffered significant damage, with the fabric roof being ripped to shreds. The team’s manager was among those forced to evacuate the area.
As the storm moved inland, it weakened, but the aftermath was still significant. Many communities were left without power, and thousands of people were forced to spend the night in shelters or flee their homes. The storm caused widespread damage, with the governor declaring a state of emergency.
As the cleanup effort began, officials warned of the danger of downed power lines, trees in roads, and flooding. “We’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out,” Sheriffs in the affected areas warned. The governor emphasized that while the storm was devastating, it was not the “worst-case scenario.”