Hurricane Milton moved off Florida’s east coast Thursday morning after making landfall Wednesday evening near Sarasota in Siesta Key.
The powerful storm brought destructive winds, widespread power outages affecting over 3 million customers, and a significant outbreak of tornadoes across the Sunshine State.
The devastating Milton is being blamed for at least eight deaths across Florida, including five in St. Lucie County, one in Polk County, and two in Volusia County.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, at least five people were killed in northern Fort Pierce during Wednesday’s tornado outbreak spawned by Milton.
Sheriff Keith Pearson said the victims were in Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, where a significant tornado moved through on Wednesday.
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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported one death, but no other information was immediately available.
The death toll climbed to eight Thursday afternoon, with two more deaths reported in Volusia County.
More deaths were reported in St. Lucie County as Tornadoes damaged Florida’s Treasure Coast
As Hurricane Milton moved across Florida and eventually exited the state on Thursday morning, multiple water rescues were reported in the Orlando area.
A family of four was rescued from a home and transported to a shelter by Orange County Fire Rescue. The rescue was captured in the video below.
Rescue efforts underway in Orange County. Edgewater/Winter Park area.
Our teams are working tirelessly to respond to water rescues emergencies. pic.twitter.com/YqSPEhREft— OCFire Rescue (@OCFireRescue) October 10, 2024
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office was also inspecting homes in a flooded Orlando area on Thursday morning, where the water was chest-deep in some places.
Earlier Thursday morning, a dramatic incident occurred in Madeira Beach, a Pinellas County city near St. Petersburg. Just two weeks after Hurricane Helene brought substantial flooding, FOX Weather Storm Specialist and Meteorologist Mike Seidel captured footage of a burning home.
The fire was most likely started by a power line that was knocked down by Milton’s severe winds.
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