Florida Man vs. Hurricane (Again)
By Ray Zafran
Assistant Editor-in-Chief
Hurricane Milton hit Florida this month as a Category 3 storm on the Saffir–Simpson scale, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall. The storm left a trail of destruction, with fallen trees and power lines, buildings damaged or destroyed, and flooding (particularly in the western part of the state). Residents were urged to stay indoors in areas with major flooding, and rescue efforts were focused on ensuring no one was trapped in their homes.
The storm formed on October 5, 2024 in the western Caribbean Sea. It slowly moved eastward, intensifying into a hurricane on October 7, and then reached Category 5 status with wind speeds reaching 285 km/h (180mph) on October 8 as it travelled over the Gulf of Mexico into the heart of Florida. More than 3 million people were left without power after the storm. At least 14 deaths were confirmed, with many more still being investigated.
Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center warned of the storm’s potential to be one of the most destructive on record for west-central Florida, urging residents to evacuate or prepare by the end of Tuesday. The storm is currently weakening and is expected to continue on a path north of the Bahamas.
Search and rescue teams have conducted over 4,200 rescues and assists, and 1,000 federal personnel remain on the ground to assist with recovery efforts. Approximately 1.9 million customers are still without electricity in Florida as of October 13, 2024.
Hurricane Milton is considered “over” in the sense that it has made landfall, weakened into a post-tropical cyclone, and is no longer a threat to re-intensify into a hurricane. However, the recovery process is ongoing, and affected areas will continue to face challenges in the coming days and weeks.