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Floridians woke up to devastation on Thursday after Hurricane Milton slammed into the state's Golf Coast, leaving multiple dead and 3million without power.
Milton was downgraded to a Category 3 storm before it hit Siesta Key, a barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, at around 8.30pm local time on Wednesday according to the National Hurricane Center.
Four people were killed in tornadoes there, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis said on Thursday morning that Hurricane Milton was not 'the worst case scenario' but tornadoes did cause significant damage.
He told reporters that the worst storm surge appeared to be in Sarasota County, where it was 8 to 10 feet — less than in the worst place during Helene.
The storm was downgraded to a Category 1 on Thursday as it left the state and moved into the Atlantic ocean.
However, officials have warned that the danger is not over and people should remain in their homes as storm surges are expected following the storm
First Milton deaths confirmed
Four people were killed by tornadoes that touched down in St. Lucie County, Florida, on Wednesday, local officials said.
St. Lucie County sits on Floria's east coast, with the killer twisters striking a retirement community.
Further details on the identities of those killed or how they died have yet to be shared.
Orlando Melbourne International Airport badly damaged by Milton
Orlando's second main airport had a 30 by 40 foot hole ripped in its roof by Hurricane Milton.
Melbourne International Orlando airport saw part of its skylight ceiling collapse into the terminal building around 2am Thursday, FloridaToday reported.
Dramatic footage captured the moment the panels came tumbling onto the floor.
Melbourne was closed at the time, having halted commercial flights Wednesday morning in anticipation of Milton.
Bosses are planning urgent repair work and hope to have the airport reopened by 9am on Friday.
Melbourne International mainly serves domestic airlines flying to other east coast destinations.
Some flights from the UK do land there due to its proximity to the Port Canaveral cruise terminal.
The city's main airport - Orlando International Airport - is also closed and did not appear to sustain any major damage.
Its bosses have yet to announce a reopening date.
Terrifying force of Milton is revealed after Cat 3 hurricane made landfall
- Milton made landfall in Siesta Key as a Category 3 Wednesday at 8pm EST with winds
- The storm surge peaked at 8 to 10 feet in Sarasota County.
- Pinellas and Hillsborough counties saw as much as 17 inches of rain in some parts in just six hours, with officials issueing a flash flood emergency.
- Overnight, several high wind gusts were reported: 92 mph in Marineland, 83 mph near Ponce de Leon Inlet, 73 mph on South Hutchinson Island, 84 mph at Daytona Beach International Airport, 77 mph at a NASA weather station at Cape Canaveral and 62 mph at Melbourne International Airport.
- At least four deaths were reported in St. Lucie County on Florida's Atlantic Coast when an unconfirmed tornado flattened a retirement community
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission deployed more than 130 officers who’ve teamed up with many others for search and rescue operations, which are ongoing Thursday morning.
- Milton powered east-northeast across Florida to the Atlantic Ocean and offshore early Thursday with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in an 8 a.m. ET update.
- It weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moved through the state early Thursday.
A woman walks along a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in Osprey, Florida.
Ominous alligator warning as Hurricane Milton thunders towards Tampa
The best way for people to stay safe, according to the FWC, is to stay alert and give wildlife their space. They have also suggested anyone avoid helping or rescuing wildlife during or after a storm if it would put them in danger.
Severe weather conditions can often displace and disorient wildlife, due to high winds, and flooding can allow more access to unusual areas.
Disorientation and stress caused by storms and hurricanes can often lead wildlife to act differently and potentially more aggressively than their typical nature.
Paradise Island destroyed by Milton
The town of Matlacha and Pine Island were devastated by tornadoes brought by Hurricane Milton on Wednesday.
Officials say they responded to several structure failures after several tornados slammed through the coastal area.
Images from the scene showed debris and pieces of buildings thrown on the streets, with firefighters responding to a home on fire.
Police have told people to stay off the roads as multiple power lines and poles are down.
The devastation has left Matlacha cut off from the rest of the state and not accesible by car.
Matlacha is a fishing village with a population of about 500 near Cape Coral and Fort Mayers.
Cruise ship passenger shares hellish Milton ordeal
A Royal Caribbean passenger has vowed to never cruise again after a hellish voyage during Hurricane Milton.
Kim Eberhardt says the unfortunately-named Harmony of the Seas suffered 'turbulence and thrashing' as it sailed through the Gulf of Mexico towards Honduras and Costa Maya.
'It was just rocky. It was rough rocky.' Eberthardt told WVUE.
The cruise, which departed from Galveston in Texas on Sunday, canceled two of its planned stops.
Eberhardt says the vessel was 'swerving around in the water' while its captain tried to avoid the worst of Milton.
The Harmony of the Seas is now sailing towards calmer waters off the Mexican paradise isle of Cozumel ahead of its return to Galveston on Sunday.
Passengers have been offered future cruise credits to make up for the weather disruption - but Eberhardt doesn't want them.
'We have no desire. I just feel like at this point — I will fly somewhere,' she said.
Kim Eberhardt is pictured about her Royal Caribbean cruise from hell, which was severely disrupted by Hurricane Milton
Eberhardt says the cruise from Galveston in Texas around the Gulf of Mexico suffered very rough conditions as Milton blew in
An onboard map shows the awkward route the ship's captain had to take to avoid the worst of the weather
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