Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida from the Republican side, recently had some encouraging words to say about Hurricane Milton’s aftermath. He divulged this during a morning press briefing, asserting that the havoc caused by the hurricane’s storm surge turned out to be milder than initially forecasted. Always taking action, he shared that the teams are tirelessly carrying out damage assessments and rescue missions without a break. ‘The storm surely made its presence felt, but we are fortunate to not have faced the most extreme predicted outcome,’ DeSantis observed
As the day wears on, we look forward to obtaining a clearer view of the extent of damage inflicted by the hurricane. ‘Our dedicated team members are currently examining the inflicted damage in various locations,’ he stated. First-response teams have stood by the wake of the situation, working tirelessly throughout the night to provide immediate aid to the ones in distress. As per his latest statement, the storm was indeed substantial, however, it has not escalated to a catastrophic event that many had predicted.
DeSantis proceeded to contextualize the current situation by comparing the impacts of previous storms during his press conference. He stressed that the strength of Milton reduced before it hit the land, lessening the expected damage from the storm surge. It didn’t reach the severity levels observed when Hurricane Helene had hit, providing a tinge of silver lining to the whole situation.
Sarasota County bore the brunt of it, with the storm surge estimated to be between 8 and 10 feet. To give a sense of context, Governor DeSantis pointed out the storm surge of Hurricane Helene led to a swell of 15 to 20 feet in the Taylor County, indicating the relative resiliency faced in dealing with Hurricane Milton.
During his statement, DeSantis noted that at least 48 individuals, families, and even their pets, had been aid-rescued since Milton roared onto Florida’s shores on Wednesday night. These rescue missions were conducted across Florida, spanning from the panhandle to the Keys, as the hurricane spun off 17 tornadoes in the central and eastern sections of the state.
Power outages were a major concern for the Governor, given that around 3.1 million Floridians were left in the dark. Despite this, the news wasn’t all grim. As of the Governor’s press conference, more than 600,000 homes had had their electricity restored, demonstrating the speed and dedication with which teams were working to address the situation.
Looking at county-specific power disruptions, DeSantis pointed out some of the worst-hit areas. ‘Hillsborough County endured the most with 75% outage; then comes Harding with 97% outage; Manatee sitting at 82% outage; Pinellas at 68%; and finally, Sarasota stuck at a 75% outage,’ he informed.
He reassured the public about the readiness of the restorative operations, citing the prepositioning of over 50,000 linemen. Their morning activities, he clarified, would likely involve assessing the damage and promptly starting the restoration process. This underlines the authorities’ quick response and priority commitment towards early and safe restoration of services.
Providing specifics on Milton’s arrival, Governor DeSantis articulated that the hurricane came ashore near Siesta Key in Sarasota County around 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center had calculated that at landfall, Milton’s strongest consistent winds were around an imposing 120 mph, making it a major hurricane.
As the hurricane journeyed over central and eastern Florida, Milton’s status dropped to a Category 1, a downgrade that was welcomed by those in its path. Thursday morning brought with it a new development – Milton’s eye had travelled to the Atlantic Ocean. While the hurricane was moving away, the last fringes of the storm were yet to pass eastern Florida.
Despite the comparatively favorable news regarding Hurricane Milton’s damage, it was not all good news. Tragedy struck in St. Lucie County, along Florida’s eastern shores, where authorities reported four fatalities as multiple tornadoes caused destruction.
St Lucie County, situated on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, wasn’t spared from the wrath of the hurricane. Tornadoes touched down causing devastation in the region particularly impacting mobile homes and a senior community center. These distressing incidents marked a sorrowful note as the state grapples with the aftermath of the storm.
Though the storm surge and wind damage were somewhat less intense than initially predicted, Governor DeSantis stressed the need for vigilance in the face of such unpredictable weather phenomena. Floridians everywhere, he stated, need to stay safe, support each other, and demonstrate resilience in the face of such events.
As Hurricane Milton leaves Florida, the Governor also acknowledged the immense work still ahead in recovery and rebuilding efforts, ensuring that Floridians are not alone on this journey. The path to recovery is a challenge, but with the strength, unity, and resilience characteristic to Floridians, it’s a challenge they are prepared to face.
In his closing remarks, the Governor reminded his fellow citizens of their unwavering spirit and the strength shown during such testing times. While acknowledging the horrors of Hurricane Milton, he affirmed his commitment to rebuilding and healing, ensuring not a single Floridian feels abandoned.
The current situation in Florida serves as a potent reminder of nature’s might and the necessity for readiness, vigilance, and unity when it comes to dealing with such disasters. For those affected, the road to recovery may be long, but as Governor DeSantis affirmed, the unwavering spirit of the Floridians shall carry them through.
DESANTIS: Milton was an impactful storm, but not the “worst case scenario” pic.twitter.com/WZ9AN3Y3q1
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) October 10, 2024