The hurricane Milton has left millions without electricity, caused massive damage to homes, and resulted in at least 12 deaths
The hurricane Milton made landfall on the west coast of Florida on Wednesday night, coming ashore as a Category 3 hurricane before weakening as it moved through the state. During its passage, the cyclone caused widespread power outages, flooding, and tornadoes in several areas. As of 6:46 AM EDT on Thursday, over 3.2 million people were without power, according to PowerOutage.us, and many areas along the west coast were severely impacted. Residents can check the power status in their neighborhoods using Florida Power and Light’s (FLP) Power Tracker.
Impact on Florida
- Tornadoes: At least 19 tornadoes struck various counties since Wednesday morning, according to Governor Ron DeSantis. These phenomena affected areas such as the Everglades wetlands and Fort Myers, where they toppled trees and destroyed structures, including the canopy of a gas station.
- Heavy Rainfall: Parts of South Florida faced intense rains that increased the risk of flash flooding. In the city of St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast, 422 mm of rain was recorded.
- Destruction of Homes: About 125 homes, including mobile homes and houses in senior communities, were destroyed before Milton made landfall, according to Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management.
- Deaths: Although information on the exact number of victims remains unconfirmed, The New York Times reported that at least 12 people have died, six of them in St. Lucie County.
Response and Assistance to Affected Individuals
President Joe Biden pledged to support Florida residents «for as long as necessary to rescue, recover, and rebuild.» The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has already set up numerous recovery centers across the state and prepared 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water for distribution.
Several organizations have joined efforts in relief work:
- Feeding America thanked Taylor Swift for a $5 million donation to support relief efforts. Her friends, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, also contributed $1 million. Former NFL player Tom Brady announced a $100,000 donation, matched by the organization Give with Gopuff.
- The American Red Cross is working with CBS to support the affected individuals. Those interested in contributing can donate through redcross.org/cbs or text the word HURRICANES to 90999 to make a donation.
Food Assistance and the SNAP Program
The Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made temporary adjustments to food assistance programs in response to Hurricane Milton:
- SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries can report food loss due to power outages.
- SNAP benefits can be used to purchase hot foods, a measure that is typically not available.
- Additionally, modifications have been made to child nutrition programs to ensure that children continue to receive meals, despite disruptions caused by the storm.
Additional Aid
The Florida Disaster Fund is channeling donations to local organizations to assist in the response and recovery efforts. Moreover, the Florida Disaster Legal Assistance Hotline is available to support those facing obstacles with FEMA assistance. Residents can call 833-514-2940 or submit their requests online.
Community Resources
- The organization Feeding Tampa Bay is providing hot meals and essential items to affected communities, while Metro Ministries manages temporary housing for at-risk families in Tampa.
- For pet owners, the Humane Society of the United States is collaborating on the transportation and care of animals displaced by the hurricane.
Affected individuals can also obtain more information and assistance through FEMA’s helplines and organizations like Crisis Cleanup, which offers cleanup and debris removal services. More details are available at FloridaDisaster.org or by calling 1-800-342-3557.
Florida continues to face the challenges posed by Milton as resources mobilize for recovery and measures are implemented to ensure residents’ safety.