Sat Oct 12 06:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Hurricane Milton Leaves Millions in Florida Without Power, 14 Dead

**TAMPA, FLORIDA** – Millions of Floridians remained without power on Friday morning following the passage of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday. Despite causing significant damage across the state, especially on the western coast, the storm was less severe than initially feared, according to Governor Ron DeSantis.

“The storm was significant, but thankfully this was not the worst-case scenario,” DeSantis said at a briefing on Thursday. He attributed the lessening impact to the storm weakening before landfall and a less severe storm surge than anticipated.

The storm left a trail of destruction in its wake, with neighborhoods flooded, homes destroyed, the roof of Tropicana Field torn off, and a crane collapsing into an office building. At least 14 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the storm.

As of Friday morning, 2.2 million Floridians were still without power, with the west-central coast hardest hit. Hillsborough County saw 483,225 residents without power, while Pinellas County reported 460,544 outages. Power outages were also reported in Pasco, Sarasota, Manatee, Volusia, and Polk counties.

Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) has deployed a force of 17,000 personnel to assess damage and begin restoration efforts. The company has already restored power to over 730,000 customers. FPL prioritizes restoring power to the largest number of customers as quickly as possible, focusing on areas where restoration is safe and efficient.

While the storm brought significant damage, the situation was less severe than initially expected. The storm surge, which was initially a major concern, turned out to be less impactful than anticipated, particularly in Tampa, where a reverse surge drove water away from the shoreline.

The storm’s impacts stretched far beyond its landfall point, with inland areas also experiencing power outages and road blockages.

Read More