Hurricane Milton without power

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 3 storm, bringing devastating rains and damaging winds, particularly impacting areas like St. Petersburg and Tampa. As of early Thursday, over 2.2 million homes and businesses were without power across the state, with emergency services halted in Tampa due to hazardous conditions. The storm has resulted in significant flooding, with reports of over 16 inches of rain in some areas, and at least 19 tornadoes have also been confirmed across southern Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis noted that while Milton has weakened to a Category 2, life-threatening hazards persist, prompting mass evacuations and widespread fuel shortages. Local authorities and emergency responders remain on high alert, focusing on rescue operations and restoring essential services. President Biden described Milton as one of the most destructive storms to hit Florida in over a century, highlighting the ongoing impact of this severe weather event.