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Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida

HURRICANE Milton has made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, causing significant flooding and deadly storms across the state. 

Milton, which reached Category 3 status and later weakened to a category 1 before making landfall, brought about 16 inches of rain on St. Petersburg.

The rain represented a more than a 1-in-1000 year rainfall for the area, leading to a flash flooding in various regions, particularly in coastal areas. 

Being the fifth hurricane to make landfall in the US in 2024, the storm cut through the state and moved offshore, according to the National Hurricane Center in the morning of Thursday, October 9.

Milton, which happened to be the third hurricane to strike Florida in 2024, began on Wednesday evening and left over 3 million people without power across the state.

CNN reported that wind gusts reaching 100 mph were recorded near Tampa, prompting a flash flood emergency and causing the suspension of emergency services in the area.

Reports indicate that in several areas, it’s currently unsafe to venture outside or return home due to flooding and severe weather conditions. 

Although the exact number of deaths is not yet confirmed, many people lost their lives in St. Lucie County as a result of the storm, according to Sheriff Keith Pearson who spoke with CNN News Central.

“Unfortunately, I do have to report that we do have multiple fatalities,” he said.

He further noted a “modular home community” for residents 55 and older was struck by a tornado, adding that everything in the hurricane’s path was destroyed.

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“Their whole homes with them inside were lifted up, moved, destroyed. I mean everything in the hurricane or this tornado’s path is gone.”

Meanwhile, Hurricane Milton is reportedly moving away from Florida’s east coast, the National Hurricane Center reported at 8 a.m. EDT Thursday. 

Although forecasts indicate that the storm will gradually weaken as it approaches the Bahamas, strong gusty winds and heavy rainfall continue to impact areas near Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center, roughly 50 miles east of Orlando.

Pinellas County orders residents to remain in-house

Meanwhile, residents of Pinellas County have been advised to stay off the roads until advised otherwise by county officials. 

The warning, issued after Hurricane Milton on Thursday, showed many roads were impassable due to downed power lines, fallen trees, and debris. 

“You must stay off the roads until advised otherwise by county officials. This is required for emergency responders and crews to complete rescue and recovery. Stay put now,” the statement read.

The Pinellas County sheriff’s office also posted on X, that “Effective immediately, all access points to Pinellas County are closed until further notice due to hazardous conditions. The barrier islands will remain closed.”

Also, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) on its X handle, while providing updates on the severity of Hurricane Milton advised residents not to move out into receding water in Tampa Bay, noting that water would return through storm surge and pose a life-threatening risk.



It also noted that Hurricane Milton had moved onshore and would move east across the state as the hurricane continued to bring life-threatening weather hazards.

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“Shelter in place and remain vigilant well into Thursday as widespread flooding, isolated tornadoes and destructive winds are expected,” FDEM said on X.




     

     

    In another post, it wrote “Dangerous tropical storm force winds, flooding and storm surge are impacting the East Coast and Central FL throughout the morning. Avoid flooded areas at all costs and continue to follow all weather alerts.”

    Earlier on Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis, alongside FDEM executive director Kevin Guthrie, provided updates from the State Emergency Operations Center on the state’s preparedness efforts for Hurricane Milton. 

    By 8 p.m. ET, FDEM reported that Hurricane Milton made landfall near Venice, Florida, with the storm expected to move across central Florida overnight before heading off the state’s east coast on Thursday.

    Also, the National Hurricane Center had on Wednesday evening, October 8, said a “large area of life-threatening storm surge” would occur along portions of the western coast of the state and that heavy rainfall throughout Thursday would pose a continued risk of “catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding.”

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