First interim assessment – Hurricane “Milton”: the images of a catastrophe

Winds of up to 120 miles per hour, super-charged tornadoes, heavy rains and flash flooding have hit Florida in recent hours. Hurricane Milton made landfall near Sarasota on the west coast, leaving a path of destruction across the state.

• The good news: The hurricane has left the mainland again.
• The bad news: The heavy rain continues. The water level can rise up to four meters, especially on the west coast.

From one disaster to another
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said his state could have been hit much harder. The ‘worst case scenario’ did not come true; the storm had weakened considerably before making landfall. The storm surge was not as intense as Hurricane Helene about two weeks ago, which caused extensive damage in the region. Many people had not yet recovered from this devastation when Milton struck.

Five deaths have been confirmed in St. Lucie County, DeSantis said at a news conference Thursday. The province previously confirmed four deaths from tornadoes that ripped through the area Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival. The cause of the fifth death was not immediately announced. Authorities also confirmed at least two deaths in St. Petersburg.

“Supercharged” Tornadoes
The “Milton” hurricanes were “supercharged” compared to conventional tornadoes, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan told CNN on Thursday: “They had a longer lifespan.” They were more powerful. There were more.”

Helpers fish a boy out of the floods:

On Thursday morning (local time), there was still uncertainty about further fatalities in many affected areas. Rescue workers are working hard to gain an overview and take relief measures, the report said.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister urged residents to be patient. “So many trees and electricity poles have fallen that we literally have to find our way to those affected,” he said in an interview with CNN, warning against independent action: “It is too dangerous.”

Sheriff gets emotional
During a boat trip through the disaster area, he explained: “This is a neighborhood where there is not much. The residents have very little, and what little they had they have lost. The water is three meters high, up to the first floor. This is a heavily Latino community, their church is gone, their cars are gone. “Again, people don’t live paycheck to paycheck – they live day to day and have nothing,” said Chronister, who became emotional on the spot.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor also urgently warned during a press conference: “It’s not over yet.” As a result of the rain, rivers may overflow their banks and cause further flooding. In this context, DeSantis warned of dangers in assessing damage: downed power lines could be hidden in standing water. Bacteria in the water can lead to fatal infections.

Drone images show the extent of the destruction:

Although the worst fears apparently did not materialize, the consequences of the hurricane were devastating: some three million households were initially without power. In the city of Saint Petersburg, drinking water was cut off due to a burst water pipe.

Repairs should begin as soon as workers can safely access the lines. The US Department of Justice also warned that weather disasters like ‘Milton’ are often exploited by unscrupulous profiteers to charge exorbitant prices.

U.S. President Joe Biden promised extensive relief measures and postponed a planned trip to Germany and Angola to focus on the crisis. During a meeting with representatives of important authorities, he spoke of a ‘storm of the century’.