Hurricane Milton live updates: Florida surveys ‘tragic’ damage in wake of monster storm, dozens of tornadoes
Multiple fatalities have already been reported as Hurricane Milton continues to wreak havoc as it moves off Florida’s east coast
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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.
Photo shows extent of damage Milton inflicted on Tropicana Field’s roof
Police chief shares ‘bleak’ prediction about those who didn’t evacuate
In the wake of Hurricane Milton making landfall on Wednesday night, a police chief has shared a harrowing prediction about those who neglected mandatory orders to evacuate: their bodies may be found upon sunrise.
“What we’ll probably be finding in the morning are bodies...it’s bleak in some of these areas,” Chief of the Bradenton Police Department Melanie Bevan told BBC Radio 4’s Today program early Thursday morning.
Bevan noted that other county police chiefs had urged those staying put to write their names in permanent marker on their limbs “so that we can get hold of somebody to come claim you”.
Streets turned to rivers as storm surge and flash floods batter Florida
Where is Hurricane Milton tracking?
Just in: Milton moving off Florida’s east coast
Hurricane Milton is moving off the Florida east coast with residents warned of “damaging” hurricane-force winds, heavy rains and storm surge, the National Hurricane Center announced.
Sustained wind speeds remain at 85mph, with the Category 1 situated about 10 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, the NHC said.
St Johns River and Altamaha Sound could experience up to four and five-feet of storm surge. An addition four-inches of rain could douse the central-east coast.
Florida sheriff issues sobering casualty warning as he surveys Hurricane Milton damage
Florida sheriff issues sobering warning as he surveys Hurricane Milton damage
A Florida sheriff issued a sobering warning as he surveyed the catastrophic damage made by Hurricane Milton as the Category 3 storm made landfall on Wednesday evening (9 October). St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson said: “Unfortunately it’s going to be a fatal storm.” When asked for the number of fatalities, so far, Pearson said: “We’re focused on just recovering, you know, getting the help to people that need it. Again, this community was hit. From what the dopplers are showing, we got hit the hardest, the quickest.”
CNN viewers concerned after Anderson Cooper is hit in the face during Hurricane Milton report
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has been hit in the face with debris while reporting outdoors on Hurricane Milton in Florida as the massive storm makes landfall.
The hurricane arrived in the state as a Category 3 storm early Wednesday night near Sarasota County’s Siesta Key, bringing destructive tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge across multiple areas.
The National Weather Service generated 111 tornado warnings as of 9.30 pm UK time, breaking a 2017 record.
Greg Evans has the full story.
CNN viewers concerned after Anderson Cooper is hit during Hurricane Milton report
‘We’ll probably go inside shortly’ said Cooper after the incident
Hurricane Milton drives tornado within 15 miles of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate
After Hurricane Milton made landfall near Sarasota last night, it set in motion an outbreak of tornados inland.
One of those was spotted just southwest of the city of Wellington, which has a population of 66,000 and lies just 15 miles from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club estate in Palm Beach.
A video of the whirlwind posted to social media has been authenticated by the National Weather Service’s office in Miami, which warned: “ONGOING TORNADO heading toward populated areas. SEEK SHELTER NOW!”
There have been no reports of injuries or property damage as yet.
Abandoned dog left tied to fence hours before Hurricane Milton
Florida police found an abandoned dog tied to a fence on the side of a major interstate as Hurricane Milton races toward the state.
The Florida Highway Patrol in Tampa found what appears to be a bull terrier tied to a chicken-wire fence near Interstate 75 on Wednesday. The dog was already knee-deep in water when officers arrived, according to video shared by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Read more:
Abandoned dog left tied to fence on side of I-75 hours before Hurricane Milton hits
‘Please don’t do this to your pets,’ police said after finding the dog
Category 1 hurricane-force winds hold steady as Milton tracks east to Cape Canaveral
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