Hurricane Milton Causes Widespread Destruction in Florida
Hurricane Milton has wreaked havoc across Florida, leading to the destruction of approximately 125 homes, particularly affecting mobile homes and senior housing complexes. Kevin Guthrie, head of the regional Office of Emergency Management, confirmed that this number is preliminary as authorities continue to assess the damage. The hurricane, which made landfall on October 9, has been linked to numerous tornado warnings, surpassing Florida's previous record for a single day.
The storm's impact has left over 3 million homes and businesses without power, with the hardest-hit areas including the Tampa Bay region. Reports indicate that up to 97% of customers in Hardee County and 85% in Manatee County are currently without electricity. As the hurricane progresses towards Florida's east coast, the situation is expected to worsen, with further outages anticipated.
Tragically, fatalities have been reported, particularly among vulnerable populations, including residents of a mobile home for the elderly in St. Lucie County. Authorities are prioritizing the safety and assistance of these at-risk individuals as recovery efforts begin.
Federal Emergency Response and Evacuation Efforts
In response to the impending disaster, President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Florida on October 7, facilitating federal assistance through the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Over 5.5 million residents were urged to evacuate from the west coast of Florida, leading to significant fuel shortages as nearly 1,500 gas stations ran out of gasoline due to the surge in demand. Universities and colleges across the state also closed their campuses, and emergency shelters were established to accommodate evacuees.
Meteorological experts noted that Hurricane Milton, initially categorized as a category five storm, weakened significantly upon reaching the cooler waters of the Gulf of Mexico, dropping to a category one. This unexpected change highlights the challenges in accurately forecasting hurricane paths and intensities.
