Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida as Category 3 storm, battering coast with 120-mph winds: Live updates
Multiple fatalities have already been reported as Hurricane Milton wrecks havoc along the Florida coastline
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Florida residents in the path of Hurricane Milton were instructed to hunker down as the massive storm hit the state.
The hurricane made landfall early Wednesday night near Sarasota County’s Siesta Key.
The storm brought destructive tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surge across multiple areas
More than 545,000 customers were without power across the Sunshine State, according to outage tracker PowerOutage.US.
While Milton’s intensity continues to fluctuate, weakening to a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center predicts it will be “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida”.
Federal and state officials have urged those in Milton’s path to evacuate to avoid “catastrophic” winds, up to 18in rainfall and up to 15ft of storm surge, before the major hurricane slams into Florida’s west-central coast.
Vice President Kamala Harris warned that even the toughest Floridians won’t weather the “historic” hurricane, she said on The Late Show on Tuesday night.
Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche told CNN on Wednesday that officers will stay on the streets until Milton’s winds top 45mph.
“If people need help, we’re not going to be able to come to them,” he said.
Abandoned dog left tied to fence on side of I-75 hours before Hurricane Milton hits
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.
“FHP Troopers rescued a dog left tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning,” the agency wrote on X. “Do NOT do this to your pets please.”
The animal is now safe with police.
The Independent’s Katie Hawkinson has more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/hurricane-milton-abandoned-dog-tampa-florida-b2626808.html
NWS Tampa warns residents of potential increasing tornado threat near Milton’s center
Live from Sarasota as Hurricane Milton churns toward Florida
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Florida's 'Lieutenant Dan' refuses to leave boat despite imminent Hurricane Milton landfall
A Florida man nicknamed “Lieutenant Dan” — after Gary Sinise’s Forrest Gump character — refused to leave his boat as Hurricane Milton approached the state as a Category Three storm on Wednesday, 9 October.
The Independent’s Holy Patrick has more: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/florida-hurricane-milton-lieutenant-dan-b2626819.html
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