Hurricane Milton has left a trail of destruction in its wake across Florida, after arriving as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday night. Despite having been downgraded to a Category 1 storm, it remains a devastating storm that has caused multiple damages, from flooding to massive power outages, affecting millions of people. To better understand the intensity and characteristics of these phenomena, you can consult The differences between hurricanes and tornadoes.
El National Hurricane Center of the United States warned that although Milton has lost strength, it remains very dangerous. The winds, which reached 1000 m, 205 kilometers per hour At their worst, roofs have been torn off, trees have fallen and power has been knocked out across much of the state. More than three million buildings, including homes and businesses, are currently without power.
Devastating tornadoes before Milton's arrival
Before the eye of the hurricane made landfall in Florida, at least 10,000 people were reported 19 tornadoes, according to local authorities. In the county of St LucieFor example, several people lost their lives in a retirement community when a tornado swept away their homes. The county sheriff, Keith Pearson, mentioned that an intensive search and rescue operation has been launched to locate more victims in the hardest-hit areas. For a deeper look into these phenomena, see .
The tornado, part of the phenomena prior to the arrival of Milton, caused catastrophic damage in dozens of homes, according to reports from the county spokesman, Erick GillIn areas near Fort Pierce, the scenes of devastation are devastating, with houses completely destroyed.
Flooding and storm surge
In addition to tornadoes, the storm surge The storm surge caused by the hurricane has flooded normally dry areas near the coast. In some regions, water has reached heights of up to 100 meters. 13 feet, especially near Anna Maria Island and other coastal areas in southeastern Florida. Authorities have warned that storm surges could worsen if they coincide with high tide. To better understand these phenomena, check out flooding caused by hurricanes.
Meteorologists have insisted that these floods The floods caused by Milton are extremely dangerous, as the water can move rapidly towards inland areas, destroying everything in its path. In places like Charlotte Harbor y Bonita Beach, giant waves have destroyed infrastructure and left communities isolated.
Rescue operation and affected areas
Emergency teams have been deployed throughout the state to carry out rescue work. search and rescue in the areas most affected by tornadoes and floods. In Fort Myers and much of the area Tampa, residents remain confined to their homes or in previously set-up shelters. Authorities have noted that many of the hard-hit cities have yet to recover from the previous hurricane, Helene, which affected the state just a few weeks ago. To understand the entire recovery process, it is helpful to review evacuations due to heavy rains.
President Joe Biden has assured that the federal government will provide all necessary support to help communities affected by Milton. «We will be here as long as it takes for the recuperación"he said in his remarks on Wednesday, noting that Florida has been hit by two hurricanes in less than two weeks.
Impact on infrastructure: stadiums and water supply
Among the most visible damages caused by the Hurricane Milton highlights the destruction of the stadium roof Tropicana Field in San Petersburgo, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, a Major League Baseball team. Emergency personnel were at the stadium at the time, but no fatalities were reported. To learn more about how hurricanes affect infrastructure, see fast-spinning tornadoes.
Another critical point has been the breaking of a water pipe in St. Petersburg, leaving thousands of residents without drinking water. Efforts to repair the damage have also been delayed by heavy rains and inaccessible areas due to flooding.
Milton's return to Category 1 and what's to come
On Thursday morning, Milton was downgraded to category 1, but that has not diminished its destructive capacity. Meteorologists continue to warn that, despite the decrease in wind speed, the hurricane continues to severely affect Florida, both due to the heavy rain as well as tornadoes that could continue to form as Milton moves northeast. For an overview of how climate change may influence these phenomena, check out global warming and storms in the US.
County of Pinellas It has been one of the hardest hit areas, not only by power cuts, but also by torrential rains that have flooded the streets and fields. Local authorities are asking citizens to stay at home until the danger has completely passed.
Although the hurricane has already weakened, many of the affected areas, especially on the west coast of Florida, face a long recovery process. recuperaciónCommunities hit by Cyclone Milton join those still trying to get back on their feet after Hurricane Helene hit just two weeks ago.