Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday along Florida‘s Gulf Coast, unleashing powerful winds, life-threatening storm surge, and widespread flooding across the state.
With maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph), the storm made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The cyclone brought a deadly storm surge to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, impacting heavily populated areas such as Tampa, St.Petersburg, Sarasota, and Fort Myers.
As Milton moved inland, torrential rains threatened to cause significant flooding along rivers and lakes.
More than 1 million homes and businesses are without power in Florida due to Hurricane Milton, according to utility tracker.
Officials had issued urgent evacuation orders, warning residents that staying behind would significantly reduce their chances of survival.
As many as 5.5 million across Florida were ordered to evacuate in at least 11 counties along the Gulf Coast, including the densely populated cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater.
State officials said that this mass evacuation has surpassed that of Hurricane Irma in 2017, the largest in Florida’s history.
Milton, fueled by unusually warm Gulf of Mexico waters, twice reached Category 5 strength before weakening slightly, and the hurricane was expected to cross the Florida peninsula before emerging into the Atlantic on Thursday, while maintaining its strength.
Governor Ron DeSantis said the storm threat is just not limited to the West Coast; he warned of significant impacts not just on the West Coast but also as Milton crossed the peninsula toward the Atlantic. “This is not just a coastal storm,” DeSantis said, urging inland residents to prepare for the storm as well.
President Joe Biden postponed his diplomatic trip to Germany and Angola to oversee the federal response. He urged Floridians to follow evacuation orders, calling it “a matter of life and death.”
Milton struck Florida just two weeks after Hurricane Helene left behind widespread destruction. 8000 National Guard troops have been mobilised in the area in anticipation of the disaster, and officials closed major bridges in the Tampa Bay area to prevent traffic as the storm neared.
As Florida braced for impact, many who had stayed behind for previous storms sought refuge. “This one feels different,” said Orlando resident Jim Naginey, sheltering in a high school gym with other evacuees. “I’m not taking any chances this time.”