Florida’s west coast was hit hard this hurricane season, as Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9, 2024, just days after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Milton, a Category 3 storm, packed winds of up to 185 mph, causing widespread damage across the state. For many areas, this came on the heels of recovery from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Here’s a look at the aftermath of Milton’s impact on the Tampa Bay, Sarasota, and Bradenton regions.
Key Impacts of Hurricane Milton
- Storm Surge: The most severe storm surge was south of Siesta Key, with flood depths reaching over 6 feet. Areas as far south as Fort Myers experienced significant flooding.
- Rainfall: Central Florida saw 10–15 inches of rain, while the Tampa Bay area was drenched with up to 19 inches of rain, further complicating recovery efforts.
- Tornadoes: The hurricane spawned an outbreak of tornadoes, with at least 19 confirmed tornadoes causing additional destruction.
- Power Outages: Over 5 million homes and businesses lost power. The extent of the outages was significant.
- Infrastructure Damage: Roads and transportation networks were severely impacted, and utilities like power and water systems faced disruptions, hindering recovery.
- Tree Damage: Fallen trees were reported across the state, blocking roads and damaging homes and infrastructure.
- Business Damage: Many businesses reported damage to signs and storefronts, which affected local commerce and recovery efforts. With quick access to water across Florida, flooding was worse than expected. Making its rounds in a viral video, the installation of AquaFence was a success for Tampa General Hospital. It kept the building dry from yet another hurricane.
- Deaths: The storm unfortunately resulted in at least 16 confirmed deaths statewide. The efforts to save people from death included rescuing people out at sea and out of flood zones.
Uneven Impact Across Florida
The damage from Hurricane Milton was not uniform across the state. While Orlando saw minimal structural damage, other areas like Anna Maria Island faced substantial wind damage. Sarasota County, in particular, experienced significant losses, with estimates suggesting around $333.7 million in structural damage to unincorporated areas.
Power Grid and Infrastructure Recovery
Hurricane Milton’s toll on Florida’s power grid was severe but less impactful than in other recent storms. Over 3.25 million Floridians lost power. This was comparable to the outages caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022, which left nearly 3 million without power. However, it was far less than the widespread outages seen during Hurricane Irma in 2017, when more than 6.5 million customers lost electricity. As Floridians are no strangers to power disruptions, generators help mitigate the impact during such storm events.
The Ongoing Impact and Recovery Efforts
With two back-to-back hurricanes hitting Florida’s west coast, many residents have faced a tremendous loss, whether through damage to property or the tragic loss of life. The recovery process will take time, and state and local governments will continue to monitor the storm’s effects. Those affected are urged to reach out to local agencies for assistance in the coming weeks and months.
