đ Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane on October 9, 2024, caused significant destruction across the state. At least 16 deaths have been reported, including five in St. Lucie County where tornadoes destroyed homes. đ§ïž Heavy rainfall, particularly in Tampa, led to severe flooding, with some areas receiving up to 18 inches of rain in just a few hours. đ Rescue operations continue, with nearly 1,000 individuals saved from life-threatening situations, including dramatic rescues from flooded areas.
đš The storm brought wind speeds of up to 120 mph, triggering more than 150 tornadoes, and left over 2.6 million people without power. đ The hardest-hit areas include west-central Florida, where tens of thousands of linemen are working to restore electricity.
đ Sarasota County experienced storm surges of up to 10 feet, causing extensive damage. Despite the severity, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis noted that the hurricane, while significant, was not as devastating as initially feared.
đ§ïž The storm has since weakened to a Category 1 as it moved into the Atlantic, but its impact is still being felt across Florida.
- A woman walks along a flooded street in Osprey, Fla. on Thursday.
2. A man cleans debris inside a gas station store in Lakewood Park, Florida, after a tornado hit the area and caused severe damage as Hurricane Milton swept through Florida on October 10, 2024.
3. Hurricane Milton heading toward Florida
4.Flooded streets in Tampa.
5. Chris Nation, of Commerce, Ga., climbs a tree and gestures while hanging out with coworkers outside the hotel where they are riding out Hurricane Milton, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. Nation, who works for a towing company, was deployed with colleagues to Florida to aid in the aftermath of the storm.
Newsweek
6. Hillsborough County fire and rescue assist local residents from their flooded homes.
đđŒPicture Source: Clearwater Police Department
