Florida Hurricane Milton Updates Thursday

E​vacuees were returning Friday to clean up the debris from two back-to-back hurricanes that destroyed homes and buildings and flooded neighborhoods. Hurricane Milton carved a path of destruction across a wide swath of the Florida Peninsula less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in the state.

M​ore than a dozen people were left dead by the time Milton was finished with Florida. H​undreds of people were rescued, while at least one person died because emergency services couldn’t reach them in time.

M​ilton’s impacts were felt from Southeast Florida, where tornadoes left several people dead, over to the Southwest Coast where Milton came ashore, up through the Tampa Bay area and back across to the Atlantic Coast.

Here are our live updates from Thursday:

(​6:08 p.m. ET) Drone Footage Over St. Petersburg: Toppled Cranes, Streets Strewn With Debris

The mangled wreckage of a drone that crashed into an office building. The roof ripped off Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Sidewalks and streets choked with debris.

T​hose are the scenes revealed in drone video from St. Petersburg, which sits on a peninsula in Tampa Bay.

A​t least two deaths in the city are blamed on Milton.

(5:37 p.m. ET) Damage Photos From Longboat Key

S​arasota County shared photos of damage on Longboat Key, a barrier island just a few miles north of where Hurricane Milton came ashore at Siesta Key.

T​rees were downed and boats, home and a church damaged. The area also took a hard hit from Helene two weeks ago.

(​5:27 p.m. ET) How To Help

We’ve compiled a short list of organizations helping victims of Hurricane Milton in Florida. We also have a similar list for Hurricane Helene in Florida and North Carolina, an even bigger disaster that’s still unfolding.

(​5:21 p.m. ET) Tragedy Strikes County Cleanup Crew

Employees in Polk County were out before sunrise for cleanup and assessment. One crew member was hit and killed while cutting a tree that blocked an intersection. The driver involved was a fellow county employee coming to help with debris removal, according to a news release.

O​fficials in Hillsborough County also announced this afternoon that a woman was killed when a branch fell from a tree.

I​n all, 15 deaths are so far being connected to Hurricane Milton in Florida.

(​5:07 p.m. ET) Tampa, Orlando Airports To Resume Full Operations

T​ampa International Airport will reopen at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

O​rlando International Airport resumed limited flights today, but will fully reopen tomorrow.

(​5:01 p.m. ET) Milton Has Left The Building

W​e’ve officially said goodbye to this storm. Milton is still packing winds of about 70 mph, but is now over the Atlantic Ocean off Florida’s East Coast.

While the storm is gone, rescues and damage assessments are ongoing and flooding remains a threat.

The cleanup from Milton and Helene combined remains a long road ahead.

(​4:38 p.m. ET) First Responders Couldn’t Reach Cardiac Arrest Victim

The cardiac deaths of t​wo people in Volusia County are being blamed on Milton.

One was a person who had a heart attack while boarding up their property.

The other suffered a cardiac arrest at the height of the storm when first responders couldn’t get there in time, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

V​olusia County is on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, about 150 miles northeast of where Milton came ashore.

T​his brings the total number of deaths connected to Milton in Florida to 13.

(​4:27 p.m. ET) Death Toll Rises In Florida Tornadoes

Authorities say they found the body of another person in St. Lucie County. It’s the sixth death there connected to tornadoes ahead of Milton’s landfall across the state.

(​3:56 p.m. ET) The Latest Power Outage Numbers

M​ore than 3.1 million power outages remain in Florida, according to PowerOutage.us. The number of individuals without electricity is actually much higher since each outage can represent multiple people, households or businesses.

The current numbers include:

-​Nearly the entire counties of Highlands and Hardee, which sit in the center of the Florida Peninsula.

-​About 517,000 outages in Hillsborough County, which includes the city of Tampa. That’s equal to about 73% of utility customers in the county.

-​About 413,000 outages just to the south in Pinellas County, which includes the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. That adds up to about 72% of utility customers.

-​​More than 198,000 outages in Manatee County, or 75% of customers. The county on the south side of Tampa Bay includes the city of Bradenton and Anna Maria Island.

-About 200,000 outages in Sarasota County, where Milton made landfall near Siesta Key.

-​Other widespread outages spread across the state from St. Johns County in the northeast to Collier in the southwest.

(​3:45 p.m. ET) What’s A Hurricane-Force Extratropical Low?

According to the 2 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, what was once Hurricane Milton is now a hurricane-force extratropical low.

So, what’s that?

“Anecdotally, they’re pretty rare,” says weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles. “They occur most frequently over the north Atlantic, so the location of this transition is odd, too.”


More from Belles:


“Hurricane Milton’s power across Florida didn’t just come from warm Gulf of Mexico water, but also from jet stream winds aloft and a boundary over the Atlantic. Milton began this transition of energy as it approached Florida’s west coast Wednesday evening and completed it Thursday afternoon.”



“This transition helped Milton grow in size and also reoriented some of its threats as it came over the state. It will now feed on differences in temperature across a frontal boundary as a winter storm does. Milton will continue to cause some issues for coastal states over the next day or two, including more wave action, onshore winds and rip currents.”

(​3:35 p.m. ET) Death Toll From Milton Now 10

Officials in Volusia County, Florida, announced two storm-related deaths, bringing the toll from Milton to at least 10 lives lost statewide.

A 79-year-old woman in Ormond Beach and a 54-year-old woman in Port Orange both were killed by falling trees, the sheriff’s office said.

(​3:13 p.m. ET) Disney Will Reopen Tomorrow

W​alt Disney World’s Orlando theme parks and the Disney Springs shopping area remain closed.

P​lans are to reopen those attractions tomorrow. No firm reopening date has been announced for campgrounds and water parks.

“We’re grateful Walt Disney World Resort weathered the storm, and we are currently assessing the impacts to our property to prepare for reopening the theme parks, Disney Springs and possibly other areas on Friday, October 11,” an update on the company’s website says. “Our hearts are with our fellow Floridians who were impacted by this storm.”

(​2:54 p.m. ET) Death Confirmed In Citrus County

At least eight deaths are being connected to Hurricane Milton.

The latest announced fatality is in Citrus County, where the Florida Highway Patrol says a 46-year-old man died after the car he was driving hit a falling tree around 1:30 a.m.

A​t least two people died in St. Petersburg and five in St. Lucie County.

(​2:33 p.m. ET) ‘From Helping People To Needing Help’

Rachel Fine Wilson and her husband own a restaurant called Gigglewaters in Safety Harbor, Florida. Before Milton hit, they were helping serve hundreds of meals a day to survivors of Helene and first responders.

“And then all of a sudden we had to shut that down and prepare for this to hit,” Wilson told us in a phone interview this morning. “It’s one of those moments where you go from helping people to needing help.”

S​ee the full story here.

(​1:56 p.m. ET) National Guard, Search Crews Rescue 100+ People

H​ere’s a look at some of the state’s response efforts as of this morning, according to the governor’s office:

-​Urban search and rescue crews and the Florida National Guard rescued 106 people and 18 animals.

-​Nearly 300 shelters open.

-​More than 1.25 million liters of water, about 673,000 shelf stable meals and 62,100 tarps distributed across the state prior to the storm.

(​1:49 p.m. ET) Conserve Water In Orlando

People In Orlando are being asked to conserve water as the city’s water reclamation is at capacity. This can happen due to heavy rainfall or other storm impacts.

T​hat city says residents and visitors should avoid using dishwashers, refrain from doing laundry and flush toilets sparingly.

(​1:33 p.m. ET) Cantore: I’ve Never Showed You Something Like This

T​he Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore has covered more than 100 hurricanes. Milton brought something new – damage piled on top of Helene’s catastrophic blow two weeks ago.

Watch the full Cantore clip here.

(​1:26 p.m. ET) Sheriff’s Office Patrolling Floodwaters In Tampa Metro

H​illsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and the sheriff’s office marine unit found a 14-year-old floating on debris in floodwaters on a neighborhood street. They pulled him to safety in a rescue boat.

(1:16 p.m. ET) Fifth Death Confirmed In St. Lucie County

Milton’s death toll is now seven after a fifth death was confirmed in St. Lucie County. The deaths in St. Lucie County were related to tornadoes in the area on Wednesday.

The other two deaths were confirmed earlier in St. Petersburg by the city’s police chief.

(​12:54 p.m. ET) A Common Question After Hurricanes: Is Publix Open Today?

M​ore than half of Florida’s 850 or so Publix grocery stores remain closed or operating on modified hours today, according to the company’s website. That includes Publix locations in the Tampa Bay area and Orlando, and on both coasts.

(​12:50 p.m. ET) Sanibel Island Officials Ask Residents To Be Patient

Sanibel Island residents aren’t being allowed home yet.

There is currently no water or power on the island, and standing water and sand still cover some streets.

“I know everyone is eager to get back to their homes and businesses. I’m off the island as well and I can’t tell you how much I want to get back there also,” Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson said in a Facebook livestream a few minutes ago.

(12:24 p.m. ET) Tampa, Orlando Airports Remain Closed

Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West airports are open and remained so through the storm, but several Florida airports have yet to reopen, and are still assessing damage.

The following airports are still closed:

– Daytona Beach International Airport

– Melbourne Orlando International Airport

– Orlando International Airport

– Orlando Sanford International Airport

– St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport

– Tampa International Airport

More than 2,400 flights are canceled to and from the state, according to FlightAware.com.

(​12:19 p.m. ET) Death Toll Rises In Florida

A​t least six deaths are now being blamed on Hurricane Milton.

Two deaths are confirmed in St. Petersburg, according to the city’s police chief.

O​fficials in St. Lucie County earlier confirmed four deaths there.

(​11:57 a.m. ET) Photos Show Tornado Damage In Southwest Florida, Flooding In Tampa Bay Area

M​ilton brought multiple threats including winds, storm surge, rainfall flooding and tornadoes across the Florida Peninsula.

See more photos of Milton’s wrath by clicking through our slideshow here.

(​11:14 a.m. ET) Wind Wallops Anna Maria Island

T​wo weeks after being covered in feet of sand and water by Helene, Anna Maria Island took another hit from Milton.

F​rom an update posted about 30 minutes ago by the city of Anna Maria:

“The city has taken a significant amount of wind damage.

Streets- the streets are partially opened but, it does not appear anyone will be allowed back to the island today. As soon as it is safe, people will be allowed to return however, at this time, it is extremely unsafe. The streets are cluttered with electrical cables, and some power poles are down.”

T​he island, on the south side of Tampa Bay, also includes the cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach.

(​11:01 a.m. ET) Sanibel Island Roads Flooded

A​n advisory sent out by the city of Sanibel this morning said first responder and city crews were assessing safety on the island. Initial reports showed more than 3 feet of water over roads in some spots.

(​10:51 a.m. ET) Rescues Ongoing In Tampa Bay Area

S​heriff’s deputies, firefighters and the National Guard are still involved in water rescues in Pasco County, on the north side of the Tampa Bay area. The Anclote River is flooding the area. About 22 people have been rescued so far.

(10:14 a.m. ET) Biden Promises Federal Support For Sarasota

President Joe Biden is pledging federal support for Milton-battered Sarasota, Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert says in a statement. The two spoke in what Alpert is calling an unexpected phone call as crews work to clear blocked roadways and assess storm damage.

“He understands… it will take a lot from the federal government to help us recover in Sarasota,” she said. “We’re grateful for the support and thank President Biden for reaching out.”

(10:05 a.m. ET) Pinellas County Reopens, Advises Residents To Stay Put

After closing earlier, Pinellas County is reopening its borders and barrier islands. County officials urged residents located within the county to stay sheltered where they are, and to use extreme caution if they must leave their shelters.

Emergency response and road clearing crews are continuing to address hazardous conditions in the county for the next several days, including downed trees and power lines as well as numerous traffic lights that are without power.

More than 420,000 customers are still without power in the county, according to PowerOutage.us.

Residents are encouraged to visit disaster.pinellas.gov for updates.

(9:15 a.m. ET) Photos Show A First Glance At Milton’s Destruction

As daylight breaks, photos are showing the damage Milton left behind in Florida. The roof at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg is seen partially destroyed. Roads and neighborhoods along the Florida coast are waterlogged and vehicles are overtaken by floodwaters.

(8:23 a.m. ET) St. Lucie County Provides A Death Toll Update

Officials confirmed that four people were killed in St. Lucie County Wednesday when Milton spun up large tornadoes prior to landfall.

About 125 homes were destroyed before Milton even came ashore, Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida Division of Emergency Management said. Many of the destroyed homes were mobile homes in communities for senior citizens, according to the Associated Press.

(8:10 a.m. ET) Milton Moves Away From Florida’s East Coast, Some Tropical Storm, Hurricane Warnings And Watches Discontinued

Milton’s center is moving away from the east coast of Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, the National Hurricane Center reported. It has downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane.

All hurricane and tropical storm warnings are discontinued on the state’s west coast but remain in effect for much of Florida’s east-central coast. Storm surge warnings remain in effect for areas of the state’s east coast up to Altamaha Sound, Georgia.

The storm will continue to move away from the peninsula and head north of the Bahamas.

(7:33 a.m. ET) Pinellas County Closes Completely

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office announces that Pinellas County is shutting off all access points to the county as rescue crews address hazardous conditions. The barrier islands are closed as well.

(7:18 a.m. ET) Boat Washes Onto Road In Port Charlotte

Photos show a boat jutting out into traffic after Milton tossed it onto a road in Port Charlotte. Street flooding is reported in the area from multiple feet of storm surge and heavy rain.

(6:54 a.m. ET) Pinellas County Urges All Residents To Shelter In Place

Pinellas County is sending out an emergency alert to residents, urging people still in the county to shelter in place. This helps ensure emergency response crews can respond to calls for help and clear the storm damage.

“SEVERE DAMAGES COUNTYWIDE,” the alert reads. “Many roads impassable due to downed power lines, fallen trees, debris… YOU MUST STAY OFF THE ROADS until advised otherwise by county officials…STAY PUT NOW.”

(6:29 a.m. ET) Rescues Underway In Tampa Area

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is responding to calls for help in at least one neighborhood.

“Our cut teams are out cutting trees, trying to open up some of the roadways,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said on the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. “There are downed power lines and trees everywhere. Please stay indoors. We’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out.”

(6:15 a.m. ET) St. Lucie County Sheriff: “We Have Lost Some Life”

Milton took lives before the hurricane even made landfall. The St. Lucie County Sheriff confirmed on WPBF 25 News that there were multiple deaths at the Spanish Lakes Country Club in Fort Pierce, where a tornado destroyed homes and buildings. The number of deaths are not yet clear.

(5:43 a.m. ET) Storm Surge Peak Not Yet Reached For Northeast Florida

Though northeast Florida is seeing flooding now, the worst is yet to come. Storm surge peak is this afternoon and evening along this part of Florida’s coast, Intracoastal Waterway and St. Johns River. The St. Johns Basin will see at least two weeks of moderate to major flooding after the peak later today.

(MORE: Storm Surge: Separating Myth From Fact Could Save Your Life)

(5:25 a.m. ET) Milton Breaks Tampa’s Monthly Record Rainfall In One Day

Milton brought Tampa a total of 11.43 inches of rainfall Wednesday, breaking the city’s monthly rainfall record in just one day. The city’s previous wettest October was in 1922, a month that received 10.33 inches of rain.

(5:18 a.m. ET) St. Johns River Flooding In Several Counties

Storm surge and high tide along with heavy rainfall are combining, flooding the St. Johns River, causing moderate to major inundation in parts of St. Johns Putnam and Flagler counties.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office warned people not to drive through floodwaters and shared photos of some of the scenes around the county.

(​4:40 a.m. ET) Here’s The Latest On That Crane Collapse

A​ crane came crashing down late last night in downtown St. Petersburg, striking a building that houses the offices of the Tampa Bay Times. Here’s what’s known as this hour, via the Tampa Bay Times:

-​ The crane was being used for the construction of a new residential high-rise being built across from the newspaper’s offices.

-​ Nobody was hurt, and no one was inside either building affected by the crane collapse.

-​ The crane fell onto 1st Avenue South and completely blocked the street.

-​ This crane, and two others at the construction site, were reportedly rated to withstand 110-mph winds.

(​4:15 a.m. ET) Everyone OK After Tropicana Field Roof Damaged

T​ropicana Field, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, suffered major damage when several panels of the roof were ripped off by Milton’s powerful winds last night. The building was being used to house essential personnel tasked with storm response, and the playing field was lined with hundreds of cots.

“No first responders were being staged at Tropicana Field and the essential personnel that were there are all accounted for and safe,” a Tampa Bay Rays spokesperson told ABC News. “Teams will be assessing the situation more when it is safe to do so.”

(​4 a.m. ET) Outages Top 3 Million

A​ccording to PowerOutage.us, more than 3 million homes and businesses are in the dark in Florida. That accounts for roughly one out of every four customers statewide.

U​nsurprisingly, the counties with the largest percentage of customers in the dark are closest to where Milton made landfall. Nearly everyone has lost power in Manatee and Sarasota counties, and Hillsborough County, where Tampa is the county seat, has half a million powerless homes and businesses.

J​enn Jordan, Renee Straker and Dave Siff contributed to this report.