LITHIA, Fla. — Residents of Florida faced a challenging recovery process on Friday as they navigated through flooded streets, cleaned up debris, and evaluated the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, which impacted coastal regions and triggered a series of deadly tornadoes.
Tragically, the storm has resulted in at least ten fatalities, with rescue teams still engaged in saving individuals stranded by swollen rivers. Despite the extent of the disaster, many expressed gratitude that the hurricane wasn’t more severe. It notably avoided a direct strike on heavily populated Tampa, and the feared dangerous storm surge did not occur.
Governor Ron DeSantis has urged residents to remain vigilant, highlighting ongoing safety hazards such as downed power lines and stagnant water, which may conceal risks. “We’re now in a period where fatalities can be prevented,” DeSantis emphasized, urging the public to make wise decisions in the face of these dangers.
In the meantime, as homeowners began to survey the extent of the damage, approximately 2.2 million customers were still without power across Florida. Residents in St. Petersburg were advised to boil their water until at least Monday for safety when drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth.
As the state’s key tourism sector began to stabilize, several theme parks were preparing to reopen, and Florida’s busiest airport was set to resume full operations on Friday. Milton struck just two weeks after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc, flooding barrier islands, damaging the Tampa Bay Rays’ baseball stadium, and knocking over a construction crane.
Rescue operations by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were underway on Friday, focusing on those stranded by rising waters along the Alafia River. The river stretches for 25 miles from eastern Hillsborough County into Tampa Bay. Rescuers were also saving animals, including a large pig aided by Cindy Evers, who had already rescued a donkey and several goats. Evers expressed her intention to locate the animals’ owners after ensuring their safety.
Some residents heeded evacuation warnings based on past experiences. Last month during Hurricane Helene, Punta Gorda encountered eight feet of seawater flooding, prompting 121 rescues. However, Milton caused a more manageable five feet of flooding, necessitating only three rescues. “So people listened to the evacuation order,” remarked Mayor Lynne Matthews.
In Riverview, Canadian Del Ockey found himself cut off from his home after a bridge washed out. The only access to his property was a pair of planks over a diminished creek. Ockey described his experience with hurricanes over the years, noting that Milton was notably intense. “We’ve had seven or eight of them come before, but nothing like this one. This was big-time,” he said.
Before midday Friday, vehicles transporting residents returning from evacuation were seen inching along Interstate 75, commonly referred to as Alligator Alley. Many had fled to the state’s Atlantic Coast near Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Meanwhile, emergency vehicles and resources were directed to the hardest-hit regions, though fuel shortages persisted, with many stations remaining closed as far north as Ocala.
Fortunately, some positive developments occurred for visitors. Major Florida theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, resumed operations on Friday. Orlando International Airport, the busiest in the state, announced that domestic and international flights would recommence Friday after limited arrivals were allowed Thursday evening, with minimal damage reported. In contrast, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and Patrick Space Force Base near Cocoa Beach remained closed to all but essential personnel, with MacDill reporting some damage but Patrick escaping significant harm.
In Clearwater, Kelvin Glenn recounted his frightening experience when floodwaters swiftly rose to waist level in his apartment, trapping him and seven children for hours. Rescue boats eventually arrived to escort them to safety. “Sitting in that cold nasty water was kind of bad,” Glenn noted.
With immediate survival challenges transitioning into longer-term concerns, Glenn lamented the loss of everything in his apartment, facing potential homelessness. “I ain’t going to say we’re homeless,” he explained, “But we’ve got to start all over again.”
On the federal front, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has sufficient funds to address the immediate needs stemming from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, although additional funding may be necessary in the future. The disaster assistance fund serves to facilitate rapid responses to various disasters nationwide, with Congress recently replenishing the fund with $20 billion, matching last year’s contribution.
