St. Petersburg (Business Emerge) October 10: Hurricane Milton’s violent passage across Florida on Thursday left a devastating wake, reducing homes to rubble and knocking out power to nearly two million residents. The storm, which initially hit Florida’s west coast on Wednesday evening, wreaked havoc throughout the state, triggering deadly tornadoes and unleashing torrential rain. As of early Thursday, the hurricane had weakened but remained dangerous, with winds of up to 90 mph (150 kph) and severe storm surges, particularly impacting Florida’s Atlantic Coast.
The hurricane first made landfall near Siesta Key, a barrier island situated off Sarasota, Florida, at approximately 8:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm. Maximum sustained winds reached 120 mph (195 kph), bringing widespread destruction to the area. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis noted that while the worst of the storm’s surge seemed to have been avoided, Milton’s impact was still significant, including ripping the roof off Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.
Tampa Bay and its surrounding areas, including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, were placed under a flash flood emergency. St. Petersburg received over 16 inches (422 mm) of rainfall, further compounding the storm’s destructive force. Meanwhile, a large construction crane was toppled in St. Petersburg, collapsing onto an empty street, showcasing the sheer power of Milton’s winds.
Milton’s destruction wasn’t confined to a single region. The hurricane spawned at least 19 tornadoes, which tore through multiple counties, causing severe damage. In Fort Pierce, located on Florida’s eastern coast, two fatalities were reported at a retirement community after a suspected tornado hit. In nearby St. Lucie County, approximately 100 homes were destroyed, most of them mobile homes.
The coastal town of Fort Myers was also hard-hit by a tornado, where resident Connor Ferrin recounted the moment his home was nearly obliterated. “It all happened in an instant. Windows blew out, and debris filled the house. I had to grab my dogs and take shelter under the bed,” he said, visibly shaken from the experience.
As the storm moved inland, millions of people remained in its projected path, with nearly two million homes and businesses experiencing power outages. The hurricane, now classified as a Category 1, weakened slightly as it approached Cape Canaveral but continued to pose a major threat to the region. By late Thursday morning, Milton began moving into the Atlantic, gradually losing strength.
This hurricane followed closely on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida just two weeks ago, further complicating recovery efforts. Authorities have warned that the combined damage from these storms could reach billions of dollars, with long-lasting impacts on the state and the broader southern U.S.