As Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc on Florida, leaving destruction in its wake, the state managed to avoid the worst-case scenario of a catastrophic surge of seawater. Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the significant damage caused by the storm, but noted that the Tampa Bay area had dodged the storm surge warnings.
Reports of at least ten deaths attributed to tornadoes were confirmed by US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. St. Lucie County on Florida’s east coast bore the brunt of the tornados, resulting in the loss of five lives.
The aftermath of the storm left more than 3 million homes and businesses without power, with severe damage caused by tornadoes throughout the state. Despite the destruction, Tampa managed to avoid a direct hit.
Emergency crews were on high alert, responding to numerous distress calls as the state braced for potential river flooding. President Joe Biden pledged the federal government’s full support to help Florida recover from the disaster.
As the storm weakened and moved away from the Atlantic coast, Florida began the daunting task of assessing the damage and beginning the long process of recovery.