Hurricane Milton’s devastating impact on Florida continued to unfold on Friday morning, with the death toll rising to 16. Rescue efforts are underway, with workers navigating treacherous floodwaters and debris to reach stranded residents. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the current casualty count is expected to increase as the full extent of the storm’s destruction becomes clear.
In a stark contrast to the scale of destruction, Hurricane Helene, which ravaged the state just last month, claimed at least 241 lives. The storm’s inland flooding caused widespread devastation, affecting multiple states beyond Florida. Coming on the heels of Hurricane Helene, Milton’s arrival required a massive cleanup operation mere weeks before the November 5 general elections.
While Milton did not trigger the feared catastrophic surge of seawater, the storm still poses a significant threat to residents. Reuters warns that the cleanup process could take months for some, as millions of Floridians struggle to recover from the disaster. The storm’s economic impact is also expected to be substantial, with analysts estimating that insurers could face losses of up to $100 billion.
As of late Thursday, a staggering 2.75 million homes and businesses in Florida were without power, according to PowerOutage.us. Many residents have been waiting days for power to be restored, a situation exacerbated by the recent power outages caused by Hurricane Helene. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned on Thursday that while the state had narrowly avoided the “worst-case scenario,” the damage was still considerable.
The state’s busiest airport, Orlando International, reported minor damage, including leaks and downed trees, and announced that domestic and international flights would resume on Friday, after resuming domestic arrivals on Thursday evening. The airport’s swift recovery is a welcome development, but the full extent of the storm’s impact on the state’s infrastructure remains to be seen.
