Over 3 million homes and businesses were without power early Thursday as Hurricane Milton, now a Category 1 storm, moved away from Florida after causing multiple tornadoes and severe flooding overnight. The storm is heading away from Florida’s east coast and is expected to pass north of the Bahamas later in the day. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicted that Milton would become a powerful post-tropical storm by Thursday afternoon or evening, with gradual weakening in the following days. Tropical storm conditions are expected in parts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the storm was serious but not the worst-case scenario, noting that the storm weakened before hitting land and the storm surge wasn’t as bad as Hurricane Helene’s.
Officials are still determining the number of casualties. DeSantis acknowledged reports of deaths from tornadoes and confirmed that at least four people died in St. Lucie County. He plans to visit the area and hold a press conference with FEMA chief Deanne Criswell.
Storm surge, an abnormal rise in seawater, caused flooding along parts of Florida’s coast, with some areas expecting surges as high as 13 feet. Although the warning for Florida’s west coast was lifted, warnings remain in effect for other areas along the coast.
President Biden called the storm a “matter of life and death,” urging Florida residents to evacuate. Biden has postponed his international trip to focus on the storm response. There have been tensions between Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor DeSantis, but Biden assured that communication with DeSantis has been smooth.
Hurricane Milton has disrupted travel, with airports in Tampa and Orlando closing, thousands of flights canceled or delayed, and popular theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios shutting down. Even Waffle House locations in the Tampa area closed, a rare move that signals the severity of the storm. Hurricane Milton follows Hurricane Helene, which recently hit Florida, causing over 220 deaths and significant damage. Many areas in Florida are still recovering from that storm as Milton makes its impact.
