Hurricane Milton Strikes Florida as Category 3

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm, bringing devastating impacts including at least six feet of storm surge on Fort Myers Beach and power outages affecting over 1.5 million homes and businesses statewide. The hurricane spawned tornadoes and dumped excessive rainfall, with reports of over 16 inches in some areas, leading to widespread flooding and damage. Tragically, officials have confirmed fatalities, particularly in mobile home communities impacted by tornadoes. Governor Ron DeSantis announced a massive state response, deploying thousands of National Guard and utility workers to assist in recovery efforts. Despite evacuation orders, many residents were unable to flee in time, prompting officials to advise those still in affected areas to shelter in place. In the aftermath, recovery efforts are poised to begin, with assistance from groups like Texas on Mission arriving to help those affected.