Rescues Underway in Florida as Extent of Damage and Deaths from Milton Unfolding

In the wake of Hurricane Milton, rescue teams worked tirelessly to save Florida residents trapped in the debris left behind by the powerful storm. The hurricane, which tore through coastal communities, demolished homes, flooded streets, and unleashed deadly tornadoes, left at least 16 people dead. The destruction was widespread, as the storm also knocked out power to over 3 million customers and wreaked havoc across the state. Among the heroic rescues, Hillsborough County officers saved a 14-year-old boy who was found floating on a piece of fence, while a Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued a man clinging to an ice chest after his fishing boat capsized in the Gulf of Mexico. The man survived for hours, enduring 75-90 mph winds and waves as high as 25 feet. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dana Grady described the survivor’s ordeal as a “nightmare scenario” even for experienced sailors.

Impact and Destruction

While many feared a direct hit on Tampa, the storm tracked south and made landfall in Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane. The storm’s widespread damage was particularly felt in Sarasota County, where storm surges reached 8 to 10 feet. The flooding from Milton, however, was not as severe as initially feared, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis expressed cautious optimism, noting that although damage was extensive, it was not the “worst-case scenario.” Still, the state faced the challenge of recovering from two hurricanes in just a few weeks.

The destruction was severe in some areas, especially along Florida’s Atlantic Coast, where tornadoes claimed the lives of five people in the Spanish Lakes Country Club near Fort Pierce. Fallen trees caused additional fatalities, with authorities reporting deaths in Tampa and Volusia County.

In the small fishing village of Matlacha, off the coast of Fort Myers, a tornado picked up a car and threw it across the road, while other structures were destroyed by high winds and a storm surge. Residents like 90-year-old Tom Reynolds spent the morning clearing debris and repairing homes, determined to rebuild despite the devastation.

Recovery and Resilience

As recovery efforts continued, Governor DeSantis confirmed that more than 340 individuals and 49 pets had been rescued across the state. Communities, though battered, showed resilience, with residents returning to find their homes in various stages of destruction. In Palmetto, Natasha Shannon and her family took shelter during the storm, returning to their home only to find their roof ripped off and their belongings soaked. “What little bit we did have is gone,” Shannon said.

Despite the destruction, there were pockets of relief. On Anna Maria Island, city workers found less damage than anticipated, thanks in part to debris left from Hurricane Helene two weeks earlier, which may have shielded homes from Milton’s winds. As the hurricane moved out into the Atlantic Ocean as a post-tropical cyclone, the focus turned to recovery. Power outages persisted across much of the state, and efforts were underway to repair homes, clear debris, and restore normalcy to affected communities.