Key Takeaways
- Hurricane Milton has caused at least 9 deaths and millions of power outages in US Florida.
- The Category 3 storm made landfall in west-central Florida on Wednesday night, causing widespread destruction.
- Over 3 million households are without power in Florida due to the hurricane.
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida overnight, bringing strong winds, destructive tornadoes, and heavy rain that left at least 9 people dead and millions without power.
Hurricane Milton initially made landfall as a Category 3 storm in west-central Florida on Wednesday night, but weakened to a Category 1 as it moved quickly across central Florida.
St. Lucie County confirmed four fatalities as a result of tornadoes spawned by hurricane.
“Numerous homes and structures across St. Lucie County, including the City of Port St. Lucie and unincorporated areas, suffered significant damage,” said the county in a news release.
“As Hurricane Milton makes its way into the Atlantic, St. Lucie County Emergency Management officials strongly encourage residents to stay off the roads and stay inside until it has been deemed safe to do so,” said the release, adding that unnecessary traffic or bystanders will hinder response and recovery efforts.
Three people were confirmed died in Volusia County, including one person killed after a tree fell, according to NBC News.
In addition, two storm-related fatalities occurred in City of St. Petersburg, the news outlet reported.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X Thursday morning that over 3 million households are without power.
Milton is the fifth hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast so far in 2024 with three of them striking Florida.
