Hurricane Milton Causes Up to $2.5 Billion in Damage

Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on October 9 in Sarasota County, has resulted in estimated agricultural damages between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This storm's impact is seen as potentially doubling the total damage caused by recent hurricanes Idalia, Debby, and Helene, which had already inflicted over $1.5 billion in losses. Commissioner Wilton Simpson has requested federal assistance from the USDA to support recovery efforts for Florida's agricultural sector, which has been repeatedly hit by storms over the past year. Significant damage has been reported across various crops, including citrus, cotton, and vegetables, with concerns about long-term infrastructure impacts and tree mortality due to flooding. CoreLogic has projected total insured losses from Milton, including both residential and commercial properties, to be between $17 billion and $34 billion, driven primarily by wind damage. The cumulative effects of these storms present unprecedented financial strain on Florida's agriculture, necessitating immediate federal intervention.