Florida surveys ‘tragic’ damage in wake of monster storm, dozens of tornadoes

At least 12 people have died after Hurricane Milton devastated portions of Florida, leaving residents waking up to survey the damage.

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

Four 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.

Ferocious winds caused a crane to collapse into the The Tampa Bay Times in St Petersburg, while the roof of Tropicana Field baseball stadium has been left in disrepair.

More than 3.3m homes and businesses in Florida have been left powerless, with those in the west-central region the worst impacted.

Evacuation alerts were blasted out to millions, with Bradenton Police Chief Melanie issuing a bleak prognosis for those who neglected advice. “What we’ll probably be finding in the morning are bodies,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Thursday morning.

After landfall, Milton has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane and is moving off Florida’s east coast – with residents still battling against brutal winds and storm surge.

Key Points

• Five people killed by tornadoes in St Lucie County

• Hurricane Milton’s damage: Tropicana Field roof shredded and crane smashes into Tampa Bay Times

• More than 3m homes and businesses without power in Florida

• Where did Milton make landfall?

• Tracking Milton: Where is the Category 1 hurricane heading next?

Sarasota County government warns of mosquitoes

21:20 , Julia Musto

DeSantis warns Floridians Atlantic hurricane season isn’t over

21:15 , Julia Musto

“We’re not out of hurricane season yet. I don’t want to scare anybody, but the reality is [that] hurricane season goes through November,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday afternoon.

DeSantis said that there’s usually a diminished chance for a major hurricane later into October. October is the third-most-active month of the season for tropical activity in the Atlantic Basin, according to FOX Weather.

“It’s possible something could happen in the later part of October,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s likely but, it’s just – that is a possibility.”

The Atlantic season runs through November 30. Hurricane Milton was the Gulf’s strongest late-season storm on record, and the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Rita in 2005.

AccuWeather preliminary estimates: Total damage and economic loss from Milton could be $160-$180B

21:07 , Julia Musto

AccuWeather forecasters said Thursday that the company preliminarily estimates total damage and economic loss from Hurricane Milton could reach between $160-$180 billion.

“With Hurricane Milton’s total damage and economic losses of $160-180 billion, the sum of two hurricanes in just three weeks elapsed time has a total damage and economic loss of near 2 percent of the country’s GDP, putting the Federal Reserve in a quandary,” AccuWeather Founder Dr. Joel N. Myers said in a release.

Storm surge still expected along Florida’s east coast

20:53 , Julia Musto

“Even though Hurricane Milton has exited the east coast of Florida, storm surge is still expected along the east coast,” Florida Emergency Management director Kevin Guthrie said Thursday.

“Major flooding continues along Hillsborough, St. Johns, and the Little Wekiva Rivers. And, water levels are forecast to continue rising, not going down,” he said.

Residents in those areas should continue to shelter in place until officials determine it’s safe to go outside.

DeSantis: 340 people rescued across Florida

20:46 , Julia Musto

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday, speaking in Sarasota, that 340 individuals and 49 pets have been rescued across Florida thus far.

Operations would continue throughout the day.

Dolphin pod attempts to escape choppy waters around Florida

20:45 , Julia Musto

Lee County Sheriff warns intruders will be charged ‘to the fullest extent of the law’

20:40 , Julia Musto

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gives an update in Sarasota

20:38 , Julia Musto

The death toll from Milton rises to 12

20:38 , Julia Musto

Tampa police found a woman in her 70s underneath a tree branch Thursday morning.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to FOX 13 Tampa.

The station reported authorities said post-hurricane restoration efforts were being done on the property when the branch fell.

Here’s why Duke Energy says you may not see their crews as they work to restore power

20:35 , Julia Musto

“Some customers may not see us as the equipment in need of repair that powers their home may be several blocks away,” Duke Energy said Thursday.

Nearly 70 percent of Tampa Electric customers are without power: CEO

20:30 , Julia Musto

Tampa Electric CEO Archie Collins said Thursday that nearly 600,000 of the utility’s 850,000 customers remain without power on Thursday.

CNN reported that he believes the outage to be the largest in the company’s history.

See Tampa’s crane collapse up close

20:25 , Julia Musto

Disney World, Florida theme parks will reopen on Friday

20:20 , Julia Musto

Walt Disney World said that its theme parks, Disney Springs, and other areas will reopen on Friday.

In Orlando, SeaWorld said it would also resume normal operating hours, although its Spooktacular and Howl-O-Scream events were canceled.

“Our hearts are with all those impacted by Hurricane Milton,” SeaWorld Orlando said.

Universal Orlando will also open for its normal hours.

Orlando international Airport to receive domestic arrivals, departures begin Friday

20:15 , Julia Musto

Tampa airport will reopen Friday morning

20:10 , Julia Musto

Biden hammers Trump on hurricane misinformation: ‘Get a life’

20:08 , Julia Musto

President Joe Biden told former President Trump, as Trump spoke Thursday afternoon in Detroit, to “get a life,” sharply rebuking the 2024 Republican presidential candidate for spreading misinformation related to FEMA and the government’s hurricane response.

“Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life man, help these people,” he said.

Biden said that the public would hold Trump accountable.

Pentagon says military working to respond to Milton

20:05 , Julia Musto

Major General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Thursday that more than 6,500 members of the Florida National Guard have been activated. Furthermore, an additional 3,000 from 19 states are ready to offer support.

The Army Corps of Engineers has about 250 personnel working on temporary roof support, debris, and more.

Biden blasts Hurricane Milton misinformation

20:04 , Julia Musto

“There are thousands of fellow Americans who are putting their lives at stake to do the dangerous work that needs to be done,” he said.

“And, it’s harmful to those that most need help.”

Oil spills from boats in Punta Gorda marina

20:02 , Julia Musto

Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds give $1M to hurricane relief fund

20:00 , Julia Musto

Milton throws dumpster onto roof in Palm Beach Gardens

19:55 , Julia Musto

Tampa Bay Rays feel ‘fortunate and grateful no one was hurt’ by ballpark damage

19:50 , Julia Musto

At least 25 people rescued from St. Lucie County area

19:45 , Julia Musto

Pictured: Panic spreads across Florida as Hurricane Milton moves into state delivering a devastating punch

19:40 , Julia Musto

Dramatic pictures show the preparations, impact and immediate aftermath after Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida Wednesday night.

Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm around 8.30pm in Sarasota County, Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. Over three million people are without power across the state and at least 10 deaths have been confirmed as the state starts to assess the damage. “This was an unprecedented storm with very high winds. The damage to the power system is more severe this time around,” St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch told NBC.

The Independent’s Michelle Del Rey has the latest: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/hurricane-milton-damage-pictures-tampa-b2627272.html

Florida man uses plastic wrap to protect his prized Corvette ahead of Milton — turns out he didn’t need to

19:30 , Julia Musto

A Florida man who went viral after wrapping his bright orange Corvette in plastic to protect it from Hurricane Milton ultimately needed none of his extensive preparations, as the storm left his home and beloved ride virtually untouched.

John Santos, of Palm Beach, bought the luxury vehicle in January of this year and carefully covered every inch of it this week, as Milton barrelled towards the Sunshine State on Wednesday.

A video of the preparations, posted to TikTok, has amassed over 63 million views. In it, Santos is seen meticulously covering his new Chevrolet Corvette in layers of what appears to be industrial quality plastic and film.

The Independent’s Mike Bedigan has more: https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/hurricane-milton-car-video-corvette-plastic-b2627350.html

Fort Myers roads reopen – except for Dean Park

19:25 , Julia Musto

Milton death toll reaches 11

19:22 , Julia Musto

The storm-related death toll from Milton in Florida has reached 11, according to a count by NBC News.

The most recent confirmed death occurred when a tree fell on a vehicle in Citrus County, killing the driver, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Chicago Marathon allows Florida participants to defer entry to race

19:20 , Julia Musto

The Chicago Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, October 13, is allowing participants from Florida to defer their entry to the 2025 race following Hurricane Milton.

“We’re closely monitoring the situation and how this very serious storm may impact participants from Florida,” the Chicago Marathon told Runner’s World in an e-mail. “We understand these participants may not be able to take part in this year’s race safely as they navigate the challenges ahead and focus on their own safety and well-being.”

Biden warns conditions in Florida still ‘very dangerous’ after Milton

19:19 , Julia Musto

President Biden said Thursday afternoon that Hurricane Milton had brought 10-20 inches of rain the Tampa area and 38 tornadoes across 13 Florida counties.

However, the president said it’s still too soon to be able to fully understand the storm’s impact.

“There are still very dangerous conditions in the state,” Biden said. “People should wait to be given all clear by their leaders before they go out.”

The Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers are assessing how fast they can reopen the Port of Tampa.

“Vice President Harris and I have been in constant contact with the state and local officials,” the president said. “We’re offering everything they need.”

Nearly 1K flights canceled Thursday across Florida airports

19:15 , Julia Musto

Nearly 1,000 flights were canceled Thursday at airports across Florida.

Orlando and Tampa International Airports both reported numbers in the hundreds, according to tracking service FlightAware.

There were more than 2,256 canceled flights into, within, or out of the US.

St. Lucie County Commissioner George Landry: ‘This has been a tragic 24 hours’

19:10 , Julia Musto

“This has been a tragic 24 hours,” an emotional St. Lucie County Commissioner George Landry told reporters during a press conference early Thursday afternoon.

Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing in the county, which has confirmed five fatalities.

There were approximately 12 tornadoes reported there within a period of 90 minutes, leading to more than 900 calls to its 911 center.

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System running full operations after Milton

19:05 , Julia Musto

“We are completely full and at capacity, but we’re running full operations right now,” Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System CEO David Verinder told MSNBC on Thursday. There were 4,700 people at their two sites by Hurricane Milton hit on Wednesday night.

“Our 2 hospitals, North Port ER and Nursing & Rehab Center withstood the impact of the Category 3 hurricane and we were able to continue caring for roughly 1,000 patients and medical evacuees across the system,” the system said in a Thursday update. “We will be assessing our urgent cares, outpatient sites and medical offices as soon as we can to determine when they can re-open; updates to follow.”

Mayorkas condemns hate speech online: ‘It has got to stop’

19:00 , Julia Musto

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday that the government is “seeing horrific hate speech of all types, propagated on online platforms” pertaining to people trying to help address the damage from Milton.

He said it’s been “a motivating force for people to do harm and it has got to stop.”

Mayorkas says continuing resolution not a ‘stable way’ to fund the federal government

18:55 , Julia Musto

“A continuing resolution is not a stable way to fund the federal government,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday. “Needs change from year to year and we need real budgets upon which we can rely and upon which we can predicate responsible financial planning and financial management.”

“The Disaster Relief Fund and the funding of it should be completely nonpartisan and apolitical,” he added.

Mayorkas says officials working to ensure residents of states hit by hurricanes have access to voting

18:50 , Julia Musto

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says officials are working to ensure residents in areas affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene have access to voting before the November 5 presidential election.

“We have seen state and local officials who are, of course, on point in ensuring access to voting. We have seen them take measures to ensure that people can, in fact, reach their polling places,” he told the White House press briefing.

“Some polling places have been damaged, for example, as a result of Hurricane Helene. But, they are pivoting to make sure that there are other facilities available to them. And, they’ll have different places at which they can place their votes.”

Milton Becomes a hurricane-force extratropical low pressure system

18:45 , Julia Musto

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center remains closed

18:40 , Julia Musto

Florida Highway Patrol out with chainsaws on Anna Maria Island

18:35 , Julia Musto

More than 6,500 National Guard are supporting Milton response

18:30 , Julia Musto

Mayorkas says FEMA has resources to response to immediate needs of Helene, Milton survivors

18:28 , Julia Musto

“That being said, we will need additional funds,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday at the White House press briefing.

“And we implore Congress, when it returns, to in fact fund FEMA as it is needed.”

Milton saw at least 27 tornado touch downs

18:25 , Julia Musto

At least 27 tornadoes touched down in Hurricane Milton, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told the White House press briefing, joining virtually from North Carolina.

“Right now, search and rescue is our highest priority,” he said.

Mayorkas warned that the storm may have passed but its hazards had not.

Pasco Sheriff’s Office warns of river flooding

18:20 , Julia Musto

Photos: Floridians wake up to damage from Hurricane Milton

18:14 , Julia Musto

Video: Topless Florida man jogs outside as Category 3 Hurricane Milton approaches

18:08 , Julia Musto

A topless Florida man jogged outside in Tampa despite the imminent Category 3 Hurricane Milton on Wednesday.

The Independent’s Holly Patrick has more: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/florida-man-hurricane-milton-video-b2627271.html

DeSantis on hurricanes hitting Florida: ‘There’s nothing new under the sun’

18:03 , Julia Musto

“I just think that people should put this in perspective,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said of Milton Thursday, as winds picked up. “They try to take different things that happened with tropical weather and act like it’s something.”

“There’s nothing new under the sun,” he said.

“There’s precedent for all this in history. Like, it is hurricane season. You are going to have tropical weather,” the governor told reporters.

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission help with Milton rescues

18:00 , Julia Musto

What bridges are open around Tampa?

17:55 , Julia Musto

Milton-related death toll rises to 10

17:54 , Julia Musto

There have been at least 10 storm-related deaths in Florida following Hurricane Milton.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis five people had been killed in tornadoes in St. Lucie County, up from four deaths that were confirmed earlier this morning.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office rescues teenage boy

17:50 , Julia Musto

National Guard cleans debris in Sarasota County

17:45 , Julia Musto

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says he spoke with Biden this morning

17:43 , Julia Musto

“I spoke with the president this morning,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was on the call with him in Tallahassee.

“I appreciate being able to collaborate across the federal, state, and local governments and work together to put the people first.”

Governor Ron DeSantis on need for fuel: ‘We’ve got to keep bringing fuel into this state’

17:40 , Julia Musto

“I also think you’re probably going to see a lot of the stores and gas stations reopen fairly quickly — at least that’s our hope,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a press briefing early Thursday afternoon.

“We’ve got to keep bringing fuel into this state,” he said.

Photos show rescuers working in Clearwater

17:39 , Julia Musto

Video shows boats left in Punta Gorda front yards

17:35 , Julia Musto

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gives an update

17:34 , Julia Musto

Milton hits St. Pete apartment complex, downtown

17:32 , Julia Musto

‘Temporary base camp’ at Tropicana Field baseball stadium to be relocated

17:30 , Mike Bedigan

A temporary camp for first responders that was intended to be set up at the Tropicana Field baseball stadium has had to be relocated, following damage to the stadium’s roof.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had said earlier in the week that there were plans for the ballpark – home to the Tampa Bay Rays – to serve as a “temporary base camp” to support debris cleanup operations and temporarily house some first responders. But those plans were changed as the storm neared, amid concerns that the roof simply would not survive Milton’s wrath.

“They were relocated,” DeSantis said at a Thursday morning news conference. “Tropicana Field is a routine staging area for these things. The roof on that … I think it’s rated for 110 mph and so the forecast changes, but as it became clear that there was going to be something of that magnitude that was going to be within the distance, they redeployed them out of Tropicana. There were no state assets that were inside Tropicana Field.”

He added that no injuries at the stadium were reported.

The Rays said no official determination about damage inside the facility would be made until officials say conditions are safe to venture into the area. There also was no immediate word on how long the roof replacement may take, or if the team will make alternate arrangements for the 2025 season.

DeSantis says Harris has ‘no role’ in Hurricane Milton preparation process

17:27 , Julia Musto

“The fact of the matter is they put out a story saying I didn’t take [her calls]. I didn’t even know she was trying to reach me, but she has no role in this process,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told CNBC on Thursday morning.

“And I’ve been dealing with these storms in Florida under both Trump and Biden. Neither of them ever politicized it. And, in fact, all the storms I’ve dealt with under this administration, although I’ve worked well with the president, [Harris] has never called in Florida. She has never offered any support,” he continued.

“So what she’s doing is she’s trying to inject herself into this because of her political campaign. So as the governor here who’s leading this, I don’t have time for those games. I don’t care about her campaign.”

There were 14 people inside of the Tampa Bay Rays stadium when it was hit by Milton

17:25 , Julia Musto

Tampa’s Tropicana Field was damaged by Hurricane Milton just months after the St. Petersburg City Council approved a new Rays stadium project.

Treasure Island Causeway reopens

17:20 , Julia Musto

Elon Musk’s offer of ‘free internet’ to Hurricane Milton victims isn’t quite what it seems

17:17 , James Liddell

Elon Musk is offering free internet to victims caught up in Hurricanes Milton and Helene through his company Starlink – but it comes with a catch.

Musk said on Wednesday that the rollout of Space X’s Starlink services – which claim to enable anyone impacted by a natural disaster to access internet connectivity – has been “accelerated” for people in areas affected by the hurricanes.

“This is being provided free of charge by SpaceX and TMobile to help those in need,” Musk said.

Rhian Lubin has the full story.

Elon Musk’s offer of ‘free internet’ to Hurricane Milton victims isn’t what it seems

Crews working to clear damage in Pinellas County

17:15 , Julia Musto

Pedro Caceres’ Orlando home holds up in storm

17:10 , Julia Musto

Pinellas County lifts evacuation order

17:07 , Julia Musto

Pinellas County lifted its mandatory evacuation order of zones A, B, C and mobile homes late Thursday morning. Many locations may not have power or water and roads have not yet been cleared of debris.

“The County is still asking residents to avoid any unnecessary travel because there are numerous hazards on the roads and many intersections are without power. Crews can clear roads and restore utility services sooner if they can move about freely,” the county said.

St. Petersburg orders citywide boil water advisory

17:05 , Julia Musto

Man plants Trump flag on pier in middle of deadly Hurricane Milton winds

17:02 , James Liddell

Man plants Trump flag on pier in middle of deadly Hurricane Milton winds

Biden urges Floridians: ‘stay inside and off the roads’

16:59 , Julia Musto

Stunning images show crane damage to ‘historic’ Tampa Bay Times office building

16:54 , Julia Musto

St. Petersburg Mayor says Milton brought about 18 inches of rain, damage to the city’s drinking water systems

16:51 , Julia Musto

“We’re actively working to restore those services to residents as quickly as we can,” Mayor Ken Welch said Thursday.

Customers without power fall late Thursday morning

16:49 , Julia Musto

The number of customers without power on Thursday morning fell slightly from 3.4 million to 3.3 million in just a matter of minutes, according to tracker PowerOutage.US.

Duke Energy reports 850K power outages from Milton

16:48 , Julia Musto

“Hurricane #Milton barreled through our state with a devastating intensity, leaving behind a trail of destruction that we, and many Floridians, can’t yet fully comprehend,” Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director, said in a statement.

Florida Power & Light crews assess damage from storm

16:46 , Julia Musto

Stephen King slams ‘sulky teenager’ DeSantis for his response to Hurricane Milton

16:46 , James Liddell

Author Stephen King has laid into Florida governor Ron DeSantis for his response to Hurricane Milton, as the huge storm batters the US state, already causing “multiple deaths”.

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

Evacuation alerts were blasted out to millions, with Bradenton Police Chief Melanie issuing a bleak prognosis for those who neglected advice.

Greg Evans has the full story.

Stephen King slams ‘sulky teenager’ DeSantis for his response to Hurricane Milton

Volusia County sees three deaths, bringing toll up to nine

16:42 , Julia Musto

Volusia County Sheriff Michael J. Chitwood confirmed to NBC News Thursday morning that three people had died there.

“One person died after a tree fell, he didn’t know at this point how the other two died,” he said.

Cleanup underway at Tampa International Airport

16:35 , Julia Musto

USF tells students not to come back to campus until it is safe

16:32 , Julia Musto

“Teams from USF are beginning an assessment of all campuses this morning. The safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority,” the University of South Florida said. “The university will provide an update later today. Please do not come back to campus until notified that it is safe to return.”

Boats deployed in morning rescue operations as towns and cities plunged underwater

16:30 , James Liddell

Flooding fills roads of Hillsborough County, sinkholes open

16:26 , Julia Musto

Trump posts message to Floridians: We’ll come back ‘better than before’

16:24 , Julia Musto

“We are deeply saddened by the devastation being reported,” former President Donald Trump said in a video message.

“The sun will shine again over the beautiful Florida that we love so much,” he said.

“Together we will come back better than before.”

Hillsborough County authorities rescue more than 135 residents from assisted living facility in Tampa

16:21 , Julia Musto

St. Petersburg Police: 2 dead in city

16:17 , Julia Musto

St. Petersubrg Police said there were two Milton-related deaths in the city, including a “medical” incident and “someone [who] was found in a park,” according to NBC News.

The announcement brings the number of confirmed fatalities from the hurricane up to six.

Tampa breaks monthly rainfall record that stood for 100-years – in a single day

16:14 , James Liddell

Tampa broke its monthly rainfall record for October which has stood for 100-years, in a single day’s worth of rain.

The city which sits on Florida’s west coast was doused in 11.23in of rain on Wednesday as Hurricane Milton raced towards the coast and eventually made landfall.

Meanwhile, the most amount of rain recorded in the city from October 1 to October 31 was 10.33in, according to The Weather Channel.

That record was set in 1922.

Typical rainfall for the city for the entire month of October is just 2.34in, according to the National Weather Service. Last year, Tampa recorded just 0.38in rain in October.

ICYMI: DeSantis praises National Guard for search and rescue response

16:02 , James Liddell

Biden and Harris to receive briefing on Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene response efforts

15:47 , James Liddell

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will receive a briefing on the federal government’s response to both Hurricane Milton and Helene.

The meeting will address FEMA’s efforts, and how the Department of Defense and US Coast Guard supported its mission, the White House said in a statement.

Harris will join the call virtually, while Biden will be president in the situation room.

Biden spoke to Florida Governor DeSantis this morning about Hurricane Milton’s impact Florida residents. DeSantis Biden for the extensive Federal support as they prepared for the storm.

Inside Hurricane Milton’s 28-foot waves as storm approached Florida

15:32 , James Liddell

Hillsborough County deploys emergency crews in ‘full force’ as search and rescue efforts begin

15:16 , James Liddell

In photos: Crane smashes into Tampa Bay Times’s headquarters

15:01 , James Liddell

A crane collapsed, smashing into the The Tampa Bay Times after Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida’s west coast on Wednesday night.

Dramatic photos taken on Thursday morning reveal the extent of the damage after leaving a gaping hole in the newspaper’s building.

Voices: Hurricane Milton conspiracy theories are deadly – and play right into Trump’s hands

14:46 , James Liddell

Providing aid agencies like mine with critical funding could be the difference between life and death for millions of Americans, writes FEMA worker Nathalie Beasnael – but Republican paranoia is getting in the way.

Read Nathalie’s full piece for The Independent below.

Hurricane Milton conspiracy theories are deadly – and play right into Trump’s hands

Tornadoes leave indelible mark on Florida communities

14:35 , James Liddell

Schools closed across 53 of Florida’s 67 counties due to Hurricane Milton

14:23 , James Liddell

K-12 schools across 53 of Florida’s 67 counties are set to close on Thursday, after Hurricane Milton ploughed through the state after making landfall on the west coast on Wednesday evening.

Schools across 21 of those closed counties are expected to reopen on Friday, according to the Florida Department of Education.

“The Florida Department of Education works closely with school districts before, during and after natural disasters to ensure they have the resources necessary to resume normal operations as quickly as possible. We will continue collaborating with district leadership to address questions as they arise,” a statement reads on the FLDOE website.

DeSantis ‘hasn’t confirmed’ tornado deaths, but says they’re ‘likely’

13:59 , James Liddell

Ron DeSantis said he “has not confirmed” the death of four people said to have been killed by a tornado in St Lucie County on Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

The Florida Governor to specify that “that does not mean there has not been any”.

He continued: “There’s a process where this happens with the state. I know with the tornadoes, it seems very likely that there were, that there were some.

“With the tornadoes, that’s the only reports we’ve received. No confirmations. I imagine there’s going to be some confirmations, but it’s too soon to tell.”

The morning briefing has now finished.

$50m available in loans for small businesses, DeSantis announces

13:55 , James Liddell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has activated a Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program, with $50m available to hand out as loans for small businesses.

“We have 50 million available to Florida small businesses, and it’s zero interest loan, very flexible repayment options,” he said in a Thursday morning briefing.

“You can apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program. Loans of up to $100,000 are available for agriculture and aquaculture small businesses and loans of $150,000 are available for citrus and cattle operations.”

Storm waters may carry ‘fatal’ infections, DeSantis says

13:49 , James Liddell

“Standing storm waters can also carry a bacteria that can lead to fatal infections,” Ron DeSantis said.

“This type of infection was responsible for a fatality following Hurricane Helene, so please avoid wading through standing water.”

The governor’s warning comes after the Florida Department of Health previously warned residents to avoid heavily-flooded areas due to the risk of Vibrio infections.

Exposure to the bacteria (often through open wounds or ingestion), which lives in coastal waters, can cause the illness vibriosis. The vibrio infection can cause watery diarrhea, vomiting, blistering skin lesions and discharge – if wounds become infected.

“The Florida Department of Health (Department) urges residents and visitors to avoid floodwaters and prevent exposure to Vibrio in anticipation of flooding and heavy rain caused by Hurricane Milton,” the Florida Department of Health said in a statement on Tuesday.

About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill, the Center for Disease and Control Prevention says on its website.

DeSantis: ‘Don’t touch downed power lines during clean-up efforts!’

13:45 , James Liddell

“Now, as you survey damage and clean up, please be cautious of hazards,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said during a Thursday morning press briefing call.

“We have post-storm fatalities almost every storm, and a lot of these fatalities are avoidable, so please be cautious of downed power lines.”

He continued: “Don’t touch them. Don’t remove tree debris that may be entangled with downed power lines. Standing water can conceal down power lines and other hazards. So please be mindful and never walk through storm waters.”

Families and pets rescued as National Guard deploys across 26 counties

13:41 , James Liddell

DeSantis announced that dozens of search and rescue missions have been completed, with more than 48 residents being saved across Florida.

“State search and rescue teams report at least 48 individuals have been rescued as of 6.30am. National Guard search and rescue teams have worked overnight and successfully executed rescues of families and pets on the west coast and from the destruction of the tornadoes in east, in the central, and eastern parts of Florida.”

“The [Florida National Guard] continues to work into the morning and have 31 rescue aircraft operational, and hundreds of rescuers engaged in over 125 active missions In 26 different counties,” DeSantis said.

Live: DeSantis shares relief that ‘this was not the worst case scenario’

13:36 , James Liddell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared his relief that “this was not the worst case scenario” for Florida in the wake of Hurricane Milton slamming into the state’s west coast on Wednesday night.

“Thankfully, this was not the worst case scenario,” the governor said on a Thursday morning press briefing.

“The storm did weaken before landfall, and the storm surge, as initially reported, has not been as significant overall as what was observed for Hurricane Helene.”

Sun rise shines a light on extent of damage inflicted upon Florida

13:28 , James Liddell

Hurricane Milton ‘pulling away’ from Florida’s east coast

13:12 , James Liddell

Breaking: Four killed by tornadoes in St Lucie County

12:55 , James Liddell

Four people in St Lucie County have been killed by tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton ahead of landfall, officials said.

County Sheriff Keith Pearson previously confirmed that there had been “multiple deaths” after a dozen tornadoes spawned in St Lucie County within just 20 minutes.

One of which struck Spanish Lakes Country Club retirement village in Fort Pierce, causing several fatalities, Pearson said.

Tampa mayor relieved storm surge less than predicted – but issues stark warning

12:41 , James Liddell

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor expressed relief that less storm surge was recorded than anticipated, but issued an urgent warning to Hillsborough county residents.

The city situated on Florida’s west coast suffered extensive damage as Hurricane Milton passed through the state, Castor said early on Thursday in a news conference.

Much of the panic was lessened as storm surge levels being less than up to 15ft anticipated in the city, which “saved a lot, that’s what we were really worried about,” the mayor added.

Castor warned that battle against Milton isn’t quite over. Particularly for the wider county.

“At 7am (ET) when high tide comes in, rivers are going to flood all over Hillsborough County, not just in the city of Tampa,” she said.

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