Hurricane Milton Moves Off Florida Coast, Leaving Destruction In Its Wake.
Hurricane Milton is now moving off the coast of east-central Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. Despite its shift away from land, the storm is still generating damaging hurricane-force winds and heavy rains, leaving a trail of devastation across the state.
The powerful hurricane tore through Florida, bringing tornadoes, floods, and storm surge warnings. Over three million homes and businesses are currently without power, and reports of several deaths have emerged along Florida’s Atlantic coast, though the exact number has yet to be confirmed.
In St Petersburg, located on Florida’s west coast, the water supply has been cut off, and the roof of a Major League Baseball stadium was torn off by the storm’s ferocious winds. Milton, which initially struck as a Category 5 hurricane, was downgraded to Category 1 as it crossed the state, yet it continues to cause significant havoc.
This disaster comes just two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the southeastern United States, claiming at least 225 lives across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Emergency services in Florida have issued warnings, with some areas deemed too dangerous for immediate response, as emergency crews work to assess the damage and assist those affected by the hurricane. Tom Bateman reports from the scene, highlighting the ongoing challenges as the state grapples with the aftermath of yet another deadly storm.