On October 11, 2024, Hurricane Milton struck Florida, resulting in significant loss of life and extensive property damage. The death toll has risen to at least 16, with flooding complicating cleanup efforts throughout the state.
Millions in Florida are currently without power following the hurricane's passage. According to the PowerOutage website, approximately 2.6 million residents faced outages as of Friday night.
Emergency services have rescued nearly 1,000 individuals from flooded areas, as reported by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The storm made landfall on Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane, causing widespread destruction before weakening to a Category 1 overnight.
The U.S. Storm Center has warned of ongoing hazards, including fallen power lines and flooding in many central Florida areas. Caution is advised when using electrical equipment for cleanup.
Hurricane Milton arrived just two weeks after Hurricane Helen, which resulted in at least 237 fatalities and significant damage across the region, marking it as one of the most severe storms in 50 years since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.