Hurricane Milton left trail of destruction across Florida with 2.2 million without power as death toll mounts: Live updates

At least 17 people have died after Hurricane Milton devastated portions of Florida, as the extent of damage caused becomes clear in the wake of the storm.

Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday night near Sarasota County’s Siesta Key, spawning dozens of tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and devastating storm surge.

Six people in St Lucie County retirement village have been killed by tornadoes brought on by the hurricane after a dozen twisters spawned in the region within 20 minutes.

About 2.5m homes and businesses in Florida have been left powerless, with those in the west-central region the worst impacted. More than 50,000 linemen have been deployed in an effort to restore power, Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday.

Ferocious winds caused a crane to collapse into The Tampa Bay Times in St Petersburg, while the Tampa Bay Rays that it was “hurt” after the roof of its Tropicana Field stadium was left in disrepair.

All wind and storm surge warnings for Milton have been discontinued after the hurricane exited Florida’s east coast. The National Hurricane Center warned that “hazards remain” from damaged buildings, downed power lines and floodwaters.

Key Points

• Death toll climbs to 17 including six killed by tornadoes in St Lucie County

• Hurricane Milton warnings discontinued – but ‘hazards remain’

• 2.5m homes and businesses still without power in Florida

Pasco County recommends residents of flood-prone areas evacuate

23:30 , Julia Musto

83-year-old man with late-stage Alzheimer’s found dead after wandering away in Polk County

23:00 , Julia Musto

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that 83-year-old Marco Grillo, a Lakeland man with late-stage Alzheimer’s, was found dead after wandering away Thursday following Hurricane Milton.

Authorities located Grillo’s body Friday morning. The Sheriff’s Office Air Unit spotted him floating beneath the surface of the floodwaters behind his residence.

Marco’s wife, Suzanne, told detectives that the couple had been sleeping in their van at the front of their Alderman Road neighborhood. Their home had been flooded by heavy rain during the storm.

Grillo was reportedly in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, had a heart condition, and had bad circulation.

“Despite Mr. Grillo being found in his backyard, the area was so flooded that our Aviation Unit had to direct deputies on an airboat to him. Our prayers are with his family, Sheriff Grady Judd said on Facebook.

Death toll jumps to 17

22:30 , Julia Musto

There have been 17 deaths as a result of Hurricane Milton, according to NBC News.

There was one death in Citrus County, two deaths in Pinellas County, six in St. Lucie County, four in Volusia County, one in Polk County, two in Hillsborough County, and one in Orange County.

Tampa police rescue 15 people from home destroyed by tree in Hurricane Milton

22:00 , Julia Musto

Amid Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Police Department rescued 15 people from a single-story home on E. Wood St.

The Independent’s Reann Philogene has the latest: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/us-news/police-rescue-hurricane-milton-b2627994.html

Disney resort faces backlash after charging guests stranded by Hurricane Milton for ‘sandwich kits’

21:30 , James Liddell

A Disney resort is facing backlash for appearing to charge it guests, stranded by Hurricane Milton for emergency “sandwich kits”.

The kits include peanut butter, jelly, a loaf of bread, and utensils and were being sold for $10 (￡7.65) to those affected by the natural disaster.

Millions have been affected by Hurricane Milton which has hit Florida and its surrounding areas. The Category 3 storm has led to at least 14 deaths, 3.4 million power outages and significant damage which is yet to be determined.

Disney resort faces backlash after charging stranded guests for ‘sandwich kits’

Alligators and stingrays could be loose in Florida floodwaters prompting warnings from officials

21:00 , Julia Musto

Massive Florida gators, stingrays and other creatures could be lying in wait in the murky floodwaters from Hurricane Milton, officials have warned.

Florida wildlife officials say multiple species are more active following hurricanes and tropical storms, with flooding displacing the creatures.

“Alligators may be observed more frequently in flooded areas after a hurricane or tropical storm,” Florida officials cautioned.

Frank Robb, the founder of a nonprofit environmental education group, told NewsNation on Thursday that coastal residents may have different concerns related to wild animals than those located inland.

“If you’re coastal, you have to worry about everything from stingrays to alligators,” he said. “If you’re in South Florida, you gotta think about crocodiles, snakes — of course.”

The Independent’s Julia Musto has the latest: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/florida-hurricane-relief-alligators-floodwater-b2627914.html

Watch: Coast Guard’s dramatic rescue as man left clinging to ice box 30 miles out at sea

20:30 , James Liddell

Coast Guard rescues ship captain clinging to cooler in Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Milton

20:00 , Julia Musto

A ship’s captain clutching a cooler was rescued 30 miles off the coast of Florida by the US Coast Guard after Hurricane Milton wreaked havoc.

The man was spotted clinging to the make-shift liferaft as a helicopter crew from the Coast Guard Air Station Miami lifted him from the high seas to safety on Thursday afternoon.

However, this wasn’t the first time the seaman was rescued this week, as he first ran into trouble on Monday before the storm made landfall.

The Independent’s Madeline Sherratt has more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/hurricane-milton-cooler-rescue-captain-coastguard-b2627887.html

Watch: Harris takes swipe at Trump’s Hurricane Milton and Helene remarks in latest attack ad

19:30 , James Liddell

Donald Trump has continued to attack the Biden adminstration for its response to the two hurricanes that slammed into the Florida coastline in as many weeks.

President Joe Biden has called Trump’s claims an “onslaught of lies”. Now, the Harris campaign has released a new attack ad branding Trump a “liar” for “amplifying false claims”.

President Biden will visit Florida on Sunday

19:00 , Julia Musto

President Joe Biden will travel to Florida on Sunday to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Milton.

Meteorologists sent death threats after being accused of ‘creating and steering’ Hurricane Milton

18:30 , James Liddell

Meteorologists have been receiving death threats following a slew of conspiracy theories that they “created and steered” Hurricane Milton.

Misinformation spread by former President Donald Trump and his MAGA loyalists have hindered the abilities to help the worst-hit communities, FEMA said.

Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene spread a wild conspiracy theory that “they,” meaning the federal government, “can control the weather”.

Now, meteorologists are facing backlash thanks to the false claims.

“I’ve never seen a storm garner so much misinformation, we have just been putting out fires of wrong information everywhere,” Katie Nickolaou, a Michigan-based meteorologist, told The Guardian.

“I have had a bunch of people saying I created and steered the hurricane, there are people assuming we control the weather.”

She added: “But it’s taken a turn to more violent rhetoric, especially with people saying those who created Milton should be killed.”

DeSantis speaks in Bradenton Beach

18:03 , Julia Musto

Baby girl born in Pinellas County shelter

18:00 , Julia Musto

A girl was born in a Pinellas County shelter, officials said at a briefing on Friday morning.

The shelter’s staff helped with the delivery, said Pinellas County Director of Emergency Management Cathie Perkins.

“Just beautiful to see that new life in the middle of all this destruction,” she said.

Dumpster truck flies through couple’s roof – six days after closing on property

17:20 , James Liddell

A couple had a two-ton dumpster truck trailer smash through their roof just six days after closing on their new home.

Known only as Bonnie and John, the husband and wife purchased the property in Avenir, Palm Beach just days after Hurricane Helene raced through the state.

Then, before even moving furniture into their home, the unthinkable: a tornado in the area launched a trailer at the property, leaving a gaping hole in the roof.

“You could see the dumpster right through here,” Bonnie told local news station 12 News. “It was like, oh, my god, we got to get out of here. You don't know if the whole roof is going to go down.”

She continued: “It was like in the movies. The winds were going, things were, you know, swirling there were no cows up there but everything else was going so we ran into the bathroom over here which does not have glass. And it worked. We came out unscathed.”

Flights resume at Tampa, Orlando airports

17:00 , Julia Musto

Flights in and out of Florida resumed Thursday night and Friday morning, following closures due to Hurricane Milton.

Tampa International Airport shared a video of its first flight, which left Friday at 8 a.m. EDT.

Orlando International Airport reopened on Thursday night, although the central Florida hub sustained some damage. Officials posted a photograph of a fallen palm tree blocking an access road.

Hillsborough County officials continue evacuations as houses and cars submerged

16:29 , James Liddell

DeSantis gives an update on Milton relief

16:02 , Julia Musto

Climate change increased rainfall from Hurricane Milton by 20-30 percent

15:45 , Julia Musto

Climate change increased rainfall from Hurricane Milton by 20 to 30 percent, according to a new rapid analysis by World Weather Attribution.

Rainfall storms similar to Milton are now about twice as likely as they were without human-induced warming, the group found.

In addition, climate change made wind speeds from the hurricane approximately 10 percent stronger.

World Weather Attribution said their findings for Milton are similar to those following Hurricane Helene.

In photos: Rescuers wade through flood water as homes and roads underwater

15:20 , James Liddell

Woman killed in St. Lucie County tornado remembered as ‘the best mother anyone could ask for'

15:00 , Julia Musto

Deborah Kennedy, 66, was among at least six people who were killed Wednesday in St. Lucie County following a tornado outbreak.

She was inside the Spanish Lakes Country Club retirement community.

“I would like the world knowing what an amazing person my mother was, that she was the best mother anybody could ask for,” Kennedy’s daughter told WPTV.

“She was always there to listen, always there for anything. She was an amazing grandmother and my daughter and her other grandchildren love her so much. My mom has been my best friend for years, absolutely incredible with my dad. He was sick and she left her job to take care of him full-time. Just an amazing person,” she said.

Nearly 1K people have been rescued in Florida

14:43 , Julia Musto

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said late Thursday that 999 individuals and 105 animals have been rescued since Hurricane Milton made landfall in his state.

There are 23 Urban Search and Rescue Teams, comprised of more than 1,600 personnel, deployed in Florida, and 10 Swift Water Teams.

Tampa Bay Rays shares ‘hurt’ after Tropicana Field stadium’s roof shredded by hurricane

14:20 , James Liddell

Florida Major League Baseball team the Tampa Bay Rays has shared its “hurt” after its stadium, Tropicana Field, had its roof ripped apart during Hurricane Milton.

Read the team’s full statement and the damage to the roof below.

Should Floridians exit the Sunshine State? Some residents think so

13:19 , James Liddell

Some Floridians have be left wondering whether to move out of the Sunshine State, after Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene both ripped through the region within the space of two weeks.

In Siesta Key, Sarasota County, where Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday evening, homeowners don’t think they can survive increasingly damaging natural disasters.

CNN spoke with one family that moved to the west coast city just a month ago from Texas, only to have their home desolated twice by hurricanes.

Another Siesta Key resident said that “you have to have a fortress” to combat the brutal winds, flash floods and storm surge spawned from hurricanes.

The woman said that she and her husband would be moving to Los Angeles.

Don’t become victim to post-hurricane scam, Florida officials warn

12:20 , James Liddell

Florida officials have warned of “fly-by-night” fraudsters looking to capitalize from the destruction caused by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene.

Pinellas County’s Consumer Protection arm urged caution when hiring workers to help repair damage to properties, warning of “home improvement scam,” it said in a statement on Thursday.

Officials urged residents to watch out for “‘fly-by-night’ contractors who take deposits and do little or no work”.

Floridians have also told to be wary of charity scams, and to remain vigilant in the face of “people soliciting on behalf of victims of natural disasters”.

Harris condemns Trump for politicizing Hurricane Milton and Helene

11:19 , James Liddell

Vice President Kamala Harris decried Donald Trump’s attacks about the Biden Adminstration’s response efforts to Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene.

The Democratic presidential nominee made a campaign stop at Univision, Las Vegas, on Thursday for a town hall where she said that major natural disasters should not be politicized.

“In this crisis — like in so many issues that affect the people of our country — I think it so important that leadership recognizes the dignity” to which people are entitled, she said after being probed by a Tampa, Florida, voter.

“I have to stress that this is not a time for people to play politics.”

It comes after the former president repeatedly attacked the vice president and President Joe Biden for the federal government’s response to Hurricane Milton, which slammed into Florida’s west coast on Wednesday night, leaving a path of destruction and taking at least 14 lives.

“This administration has not done a proper job at all. Terrible, terrible,” Trump said while on the campaign trail this week.

Wind and storm surge warnings for Milton discontinued – but ‘hazards remain’

10:20 , James Liddell

Tampa family keeps cat safe after Milton

23:36 , Julia Musto

Classrooms begin to reopen after Milton caused mass school closures

09:20 , James Liddell

K-12 schools across 19 of Florida’s 67 counties are set to reopen on Friday after canceling classes as Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified and raced towards the state earlier this week.

While all tropical and storm surge warnings for Milton were discontinued on Thursday evening, schools across 34 counties have elected to keep their doors closed, according to the Florida Department of Education.

The FLDOE says on its website that it will continue to work with schools “after natural disasters to ensure they have the resources necessary to resume normal operations as quickly as possible”.

Photos show sheer devastation on Treasure Island

23:20 , Julia Musto

2.5m of Florida’s homes and businesses still without power

08:25 , James Liddell

More than 2.5m homes and businesses in Florida have been left powerless, with those in the state’s center and the west-central region the worst impacted.

Hillsborough County sees almost 500,000 electricity customers in blackout conditions, while almost 89 percent of customers in Highlands County have been left without power.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a Thursday press briefing that tens of thousands of linemen are working to restore power across the Sunshine State.

“With the full support of the state, and the pre-staging of over 50,000 linemen, utility companies and telecommunications providers are working hard to restore power and connectivity to these communities as quickly as possible,” he said.

Walz shares message for Floridians affected by Milton, Helene

23:18 , Julia Musto

Milton was not as destructive as expected, FEMA Administrator says

07:00 , Julia Musto

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said Thursday that Milton’s impact was not as destructive as feared. Criswell will tour some of the damage from tornadoes on Friday.

“We did not have the extreme impacts of the worst case scenario that we prepared for, but there’s still so many people that have been impacted by this,” she said at a press briefing in Sarasota.

25 people rescued from St. Lucie County mobile home park, sheriff says

06:00 , Julia Musto

St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson told CNN Thursday that 25 people have been rescued from a mobile home park.

He said crews are continuing to look for others, but that conditions make it difficult.

Tampa sees more than five times the normal amount of rain

05:00 , Julia Musto

Hurricane Milton brought 12 inches of rainfall to Tampa.

According to WFLA, that amount is more than five times the normal amount of rain for the month of October.

Siesta Key in ‘bad shape,’ resident says

04:00 , Julia Musto

Traffic reported on I-75 south as Floridians go home

03:00 , Julia Musto

Estimated restoration times will be issued for Duke Energy customers by Friday

02:00 , Julia Musto

Post-Hurricane Milton assessments have begun at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

01:00 , Julia Musto

ZooTampa shares images of post-Milton clean up

Friday 11 October 2024 00:25 , Julia Musto

Hillsborough County rescues more than 500 people

Friday 11 October 2024 00:20 , Julia Musto

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said Thursday that they had made more than 500 rescues.

More than 100 pets were also saved, according to FOX 13 Tampa.

Florida’s Health Department warns of ‘active’ insects

Friday 11 October 2024 00:15 , Julia Musto

DeSantis says Florida is ‘resilient’ in aftermath of Hurricane Milton

Friday 11 October 2024 00:10 , Julia Musto

University of South Florida will remain closed until Saturday

Friday 11 October 2024 00:05 , Julia Musto

“All classes are canceled on Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12. There will be no in-person, online or asynchronous instruction on Friday or Saturday,” the school said in a Thursday update.

Florida power outages: Number of customers without power falls below 3M

Friday 11 October 2024 00:00 , Julia Musto

The number of Florida customers without power fell below 3 million on Thursday night, tracker PowerOutage.US showed.

Tampa video shows scale of flooding

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:55 , Julia Musto

Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa sustain minor damage

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:50 , Julia Musto

ZooTampa and the Florida Aquarium sustained some damage from Hurricane Milton, but all their animals are safe.

Debris cleanup will take a few days, the zoo told The Associated Press.

The aquarium’s buildings in Tampa and Apollo Beach also “appear to have minor weather-related damage,” it said in a Thursday press release.

Both the zoo and the aquarium are planning to reopen on Saturday.

With reporting from The Associated Press

More than 500 rescued from Pinellas County apartments

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:45 , Julia Musto

More than 500 people were rescued in Pinellas County after a Clearwater apartment complex flooded, officials said Thursday.

While calls came in overnight, WFLA reported that high winds had initially stopped first responders. Those winds began to die down just before sunrise.

Anna Maria Mayor on Milton relief: ‘We’re trying to put the city back together'

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:40 , Julia Musto

“We’re trying to put the city back together, but it’s taking us quite a while,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy told FOX News on Thursday.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warns of bacterial infections from floodwaters

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:35 , Julia Musto

“Many of the deaths or injuries come afterwards as you have downed power lines, people going into water, that might have bacteria that can lead to fatal infections,” he said. “Things that you don’t necessarily think of [at] the moment of the impact of the storm, but are certainly part of the danger.”

Six deaths reported from St. Lucie County tornadoes

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:30 , Julia Musto

St. Lucie County officials told ABC News that six people are dead after tornadoes tore through the area.

The fatalities were reported in the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in northern Fort Pierce.

Florida Highway Patrol rescues continue

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:30 , Julia Musto

Florida DOT warns of traffic for returning residents

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:25 , Julia Musto

Puppy rescued from rubble left behind by Hurricane Milton

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:20 , Julia Musto

A puppy named Benji was rescued Thursday from the rubble of mobile home retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida.

His owners are among those unaccounted for, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.

Florida emergency officials warn about ‘untold’ number of flooding dangers - including alligators

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:15 , Julia Musto

Hillsborough County lifts its mandatory evacuation order

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:10 , Julia Musto

Sarasota county shares video of conditions at its Turtle Beach

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:05 , Julia Musto

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue shares stunning aerial image of flooding, damage

Thursday 10 October 2024 23:00 , Julia Musto

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission warns of alligators, snakes in flooded areas

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:50 , Julia Musto

Venice Beach gets feet of sand from Hurricane Milton

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:45 , Julia Musto

Treasure Island sewer system remains inoperational

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:40 , Julia Musto

Senator Rick Scott tours damage in Punta Gorda

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:35 , Julia Musto

Around 70 percent of Pinellas County is still without power

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:30 , Julia Musto

About 70 percent of Pinellas County is still without power Thursday, according to Duke Energy’s Jeff Baker.

“This will be a lengthy restoration,” he said.

Some residents could experience outages for a week or even longer.

Miami Coast Guard crews fly over Florida’s west coast

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:25 , Julia Musto

All Milton warnings have been discontinued

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:20 , Julia Musto

The National Hurricane Center has discontinued all storm surge and tropical storm warnings related to Milton.

The storm is now a post-tropical cyclone.

Coast Guard rescues man clinging to cooler in Gulf of Mexico

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:15 , Julia Musto

Hurricane Milton death toll rises to 13

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:08 , Julia Musto

At least four people died in Volusia County after Hurricane Milton hit Florida, officials said Thursday.

“I had the ability to traverse the county last night, prior to and when the eye came ashore and I can tell you, we are in for a long recovery, but we need your help to get it done,” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told reporters.

The announcement brings the death toll up to 13.

Pasco Sheriff rescues 60 people from flooding

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:03 , Julia Musto

Tampa Bay Lighting game postponed

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:00 , Julia Musto

Cleaning up after Milton? Here’s what to know

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:55 , Julia Musto

Palm Beach Garden sees preliminarily-rated EF-3 tornado

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:50 , Julia Musto

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell meets with Florida officials

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:45 , Julia Musto

HCA Florida Healthcare facilities remain closed in Milton’s wake

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:40 , Julia Musto

Here’s what’s open and what’s closed.

Damage seen in City of Sarasota

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:35 , Julia Musto

Supplies arrives in Seminole County

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:30 , Julia Musto