Hurricane Milton makes landfall, slamming into Florida with destructive winds, catastrophic storm surge

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Storm chaser describes 'war zone' in Sarasota, Florida

Storm chaser Chris Hall discusses his experience in Hurricane Milton including over 100+ MPH winds.

More than 3 million people are without power and more than 100 rescue missions are underway Thursday in Florida after Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key last night as a Category 3 storm, generating tornadoes that left 4 people dead in St. Lucie County.

Milton, which is a Category 1 storm at the time of this report, has currently moved off Florida's east coast after lashing the state with destructive winds and dangerous flooding.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that 48 people have been rescued so far and that "hundreds of rescuers [are] engaged in over 125 active missions in 26 different counties" this morning.

"The storm was significant, but thankfully, this was not the worst case scenario" DeSantis said. "The storm did bring much destruction and damage. Tornadoes ravaged parts of the east coast of the state. Flooding occurred on the west and east coast, and strong winds lashed the state, especially in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties."

ROOF OF TROPICANA FIELD RIPPED OPEN BY HURRICANE MILTON

A construction crane fell over into an office building that houses the Tampa Bay Times headquarters, on Thursday, Oct. 10. (Tampa Bay Times via AP)

"Over the last 24 hours, heavy rainfall totals upwards of 10 to 15 inches has been observed across much of the Tampa Bay area, Nature Coast, and spreading eastward along north of I-4 corridor towards Sanford," DeSantis added. "Isolated pockets of up to 18 inches of rainfall were observed in Pinellas and coastal Hillsborough counties."

"Water levels are forecast to continue rising along northeast and west central Florida rivers and waterways, with many forecast to remain within or reach moderate to flood stage over the next day or so," he continued. "Right now, it looks like Sarasota County had the most significant storm surge, likely somewhere between 8 and 10 feet." 

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Water rescues have been reported in Hillsborough County – where more than 135 people were saved from a flooded assisted living facility – and in Orlando and Clearwater.

Law enforcement in other parts of the state are warning locals to stay off roads to avoid downed power lines. The Tampa International Airport and Orlando International Airport are conducting damage assessments to determine when they can reopen to travelers.

Flooding is seen in Punta Gorda, Fla., on Thursday, Oct. 10 following Hurricane Milton. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said Thursday that "what we were really worried about was the storm surge. And so, fortunately, we didn't see the peak of it, but it's not over.

"This morning when high tide comes in, rivers are going to flood. All over Hillsborough County, not just in the city of Tampa," she added.

In St. Petersburg, where the roof was torn off the Tampa Bay Rays' Tropicana Field, 18 inches of rain was recorded over a 24-hour span, according to Fox Weather.

Tornado damage to St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office building following Hurricane Milton. ( Eric Hasert/TCPALM / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

HURRICANE MILTON FORCES ST. PETERSBURG CRANE COLLAPSE

"It is imperative that everybody stay inside and do not drive out on the roads. We have hundreds of calls of power lines down," Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said Thursday morning. "We have trees down and we are out there actively making the city and the streets safe. So please stay indoors until we give you the all clear."

St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson also confirmed to Fox Weather that there have been 17 tornadoes along with several fatalities in his county, with "a rescue mission ongoing, and hundreds of homes destroyed."

Some areas of Florida's western coast have seen up to 10 feet of water surging in from the Gulf, while up to 5 feet of storm surge is expected from Jacksonville to Cape Canaveral.

In Plant City, east of Tampa, City Manager Bill McDaniel said Thursday that "One of the most profound things I’m seeing out there is the flooding. 

"We have flooding in places and to levels that I’ve never seen, and I’ve lived in this community for my entire life," he added, "It’s absolutely staggering, what we’re seeing out there. Last night, members of our police and fire department performed rescues of 35 individuals from flooded structures here."

This photo provided by Orange County Fire Rescue Department shows first responders working on water rescues after Hurricane Milton early Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 in Orange County, Fla.  (Orange County Fire Rescue Department/AP)

As of 11 a.m. ET Thursday, the storm was currently located about 135 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral.

DeSantis said more than 3.1 million people are without power across Florida.

Duke Energy President Melissa Seixas told ‘Fox & Friends’ that more 800,000 of its customers are without power across 35 counties in the state.

"We are beginning to go out now to conduct damage assessments. We will do this with boots on the ground, we will do it with helicopters and drones, we really need that line of sight to tell us exactly what we are dealing with as far as damage," she added. "We expect that it will range from significant poles down, wires down, a lot of debris from trees, also contending with the debris that remains from Helene and flooding and storm surge probably in certain places."

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that "We know some of the bridges in the county are not passable" and "We urge residents and business owners to stay off the roads and give our emergency and utility crews time to work." 

HURRICANE MILTON SPAWNS DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Boats rest in a yard in Punta Gorda following the passage of Hurricane Milton through the area. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue also said late last night that it has "responded to multiple reports of tornadoes, associated injuries, and trapped people in the Wellington, Acreage, and Loxahatchee areas this afternoon.

"Firefighters located and rescued multiple people from damaged structures and vehicles," it said. "Some were trapped under rubble or stuck in overturned vehicles tossed by the strong winds."

Milton's catastrophic landfall came barely two weeks after Hurricane Helene, which battered Florida before causing devastation in North Carolina. Florida residents have spent the interim boarding up windows and evacuating their homes in preparation for Milton.

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President Biden declared Florida a disaster area ahead of Milton's landfall to facilitate FEMA's preparations and response. The White House later said Thursday morning that Biden has spoken with DeSantis and "reiterated that he will provide any support the state needs to speed response and recovery."