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Hurricane Milton struck Florida on Thursday, unleashing severe winds and rain that left at least 11 people dead and plunged nearly 2.9 million homes and businesses into darkness.
Milton made landfall as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, boasting winds of 120 mph, which led to significant flooding and destruction throughout the state. Areas like St. Petersburg and St. Lucie County were particularly hard hit. Tragically, fatalities were confirmed across multiple counties: two in St. Petersburg, additional deaths in Volusia, Polk, and Citrus counties, and five in St. Lucie County due to tornadoes spawned by the storm.
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As Milton passed through, power outages surged, affecting nearly 2.9 million residents. Governor Ron DeSantis noted that the situation could have been much worse, explaining that the storm weakened before making landfall, which likely mitigated some of the expected damage.
In a surprising turn, Tampa experienced a reverse storm surge that pushed water away from the coastline rather than inundating the city, a phenomenon that left many residents confused about the storm's actual impact. However, the hurricane's outer bands generated tornadoes that wreaked havoc, especially in St. Lucie County, where they caused unexpected destruction.
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Residents were also warned to be cautious of snakes and alligators that might be lurking in the floodwaters. With floodwaters rising, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued reminders to stay vigilant, as reptiles often appear in flooded areas, posing additional dangers to those navigating the aftermath of the storm.
Governor DeSantis confirmed that rescue operations were ongoing and emphasized that early damage estimates should be viewed with caution. As residents began to assess the extensive destruction around them, the long road to recovery loomed large.
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In the wake of Hurricane Milton, the challenges faced by Floridians in rebuilding their lives and communities will be significant, but the determination to recover remains strong.
