Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 3 storm, made landfall near Siesta Key on Florida's west coast, bringing strong winds and dangerous storm surges according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The typhoon hit around 8:30 pm local time, affecting heavily populated areas.
Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents to stay indoors, warning, "The storm is here. It's time to take cover." When Milton hit, it carried sustained winds of up to 120 mph (205 km/h) and produced storm surges of up to 13 feet (4 meters), threatening widespread flooding along Florida's Gulf Coast.
Cities like Sarasota experienced high winds, broken windows, and almost empty streets as businesses were closed and homes were sandbagged. A sign in Sarasota said "Be kind, Milton," echoing the sentiment of people as they braced for the storm.
With no time left for evacuations, residents were advised to shelter in place. Airports in Tampa and Sarasota are closed, and central Florida, including Orlando, is still in the storm's path.
This happened just two weeks after Hurricane Helene made landfall in the southeastern U.S., causing massive flooding. Randy Prior, a Florida resident, shared his nervousness, "I'm nervous. Just after the last storm."
According to The Weather Channel, many tornadoes have fallen in some parts of Florida. Meanwhile, political tensions are escalating as President Joe Biden criticized former President Donald Trump for allegedly spreading misinformation about disaster relief during the recovery from the storm.
Emergency workers continue to deal with the effects of Hurricane Helene, which claimed more than 200 lives. Experts emphasize that warmer ocean temperatures, caused by climate change, are causing hurricanes like Milton to worsen.
