Hurricane Milton caused widespread devastation across Florida, with tornadoes, power outages for over 3.3 million customers, flooding threats to 11 million people, and at least 11 deaths. Moving into the Atlantic Ocean as a Category 3 storm, Milton hit Siesta Key, causing deaths in St. Lucie, St. Petersburg, Volusia, and Citrus County. Images showed flooded homes, destroyed roads, and debris strewn everywhere. Record rainfall and intense winds were reported, with 107 mph winds in Venice Beach and 18.31 inches of rain in St. Petersburg. Despite widespread damage, no serious injuries or deaths were reported in Tampa. The storm surge was not as severe as predicted, with over 80,000 people seeking shelter overnight. President Biden deployed federal personnel to assist, including over 1,000 Coast Guard members. Downed power lines, debris, and road washouts prompted warnings to shelter in place until it was safe to go out. Over 3,000 flights have been canceled or delayed due to airport closures. Milton, a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 85 mph, was expected to weaken rapidly as it moved away from the U.S. coast. This storm followed closely on the heels of Hurricane Helene, making landfall just 13 days later. Helene caused at least 243 deaths in the region, including 25 in Florida, as well as fatalities in other states.
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