Milton crashed ashore Wednesday evening on Florida’s Gulf Coast, making landfall near Sarasota as the second powerful hurricane to pound the region in less than two weeks. The storm battered the state for much of the day, with heavy winds, pelting rain and a spate of tornadoes.
As Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, there was a brief, eerie calm in Sarasota — for about an hour, the whipping winds quieted, rain ceased, and the sounds of crickets chirping and frogs croaking could be heard. Then, the winds picked up again.
Forecasters warned that storm surge could reach up to 13 feet, and a flash flood warning was in place for several cities in the Tampa Bay region. Multiple people were killed after a tornado touched down at a retirement community in Fort Pierce, the local police said.
Here’s what we’re covering:
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Widespread impact: Most of Florida’s counties were under a state of emergency on Wednesday, and more than 1.3 million customers across the state have lost power. Emergency services were suspended in several counties. Read about the statewide threats.
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Tornado threat: There have been at least 23 reports of tornadoes or tornado-related damage from the storm in the state, according to National Weather Service. One tore through Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in Fort Pierce, on the eastern coastline, and killed several people. Here’s why hurricanes can cause tornadoes.
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Riding out the storm: A group of evacuees huddled in the lobby of a hotel near Tampa as Milton roared ashore, exchanging information, keeping track of storm updates and connecting with each other. Read about their experience.
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Last-minute decisions: Several people decided to evacuate at the 11th hour Wednesday after considering the dire weather warnings and gas shortages. “I just want to be on the safe side,” one Fort Myers resident said. Here are their stories.
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Fitting end: One meteorologist’s cremated ashes became a part of Milton, spread from a Hurricane Hunter plane. Read about the special tribute…..
image…Streets in Fort Myers, Fla., were flooded Wednesday from Hurricane Milton’s surge…Getty
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