After Hurricane Milton, people in Florida returned to their partially destroyed homes on Friday. About 2.5 million homes and businesses were still without power and some areas were flooded. At least 16 people were killed. According to US President Joe Biden, the damage amounts to 50 billion dollars.
According to US authorities, most of the deaths apparently were not caused directly by the ‘hurricane’, but by the tornadoes that ‘Milton’ produced before it made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida. “Milton” flew from west to east over Florida on Thursday evening.
The hurricane downed trees and power lines and damaged or destroyed homes. In the city of Saint Petersburg, the storm covered the roof of a stadium. The highest alert level has been in force for the past few days, with authorities warning of a once-in-a-century storm with absolutely devastating consequences.
Significant damage
Ultimately, a major catastrophe did not occur, but at least sixteen people died and the damage caused was enormous. Authorities said six deaths were counted in St. Lucie County, four in Volusia County, two in Pinellas and one each in four other counties.
‘Milton’ made landfall on the Siesta Key Peninsula on the west coast of Florida. Like many others of the approximately 5,500 residents, 67-year-old Mark Horner has now returned to get an idea of the extent of the damage. “It was said that it was better than feared, but if you look at the situation a little more closely you can see that we have been hit very hard,” he said.
“Dead people found in tree”
“It was pretty scary,” said Susan Stepp of Fort Pierce, a city on Florida’s east coast where four residents of a senior living complex were killed by a tornado. “They found dead people outside in a tree,” the 70-year-old reported. “I wish they had gotten to safety.”
Stepp’s husband, Bill, said the tornado lifted his 22-ton camper and sent him flying across the yard. It was “heartbreaking” to see how much damage had been done and “that all the things you love are just gone,” the 72-year-old said. “But they’re just things, and we’re still here.”
Rescue and recovery work continued. The Coast Guard reported on the spectacular rescue of a boat captain who was shipwrecked in the Gulf of Mexico during the storm and survived by clinging to a cooler in the water. “This man survived a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced sailor,” said Dana Grady of the Coast Guard.
Precipitation more intense due to climate change
72-year-old Kristin Joyce photographed uprooted trees and other storm damage in the region. The hurricane should be “a serious wake-up call” for people in the United States regarding climate change, she said.
A rapid analysis published on Friday by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) research initiative concluded that, as a result of climate change, rainfall in ‘Milton’ was 20 to 30 percent heavier and winds ten percent heavier.
Milton hit Florida just two weeks after Storm Helene. ‘Helene’ made landfall a little further north and then passed through several states in the southeastern United States. At least 237 people were killed by “Helene”, numerous buildings were damaged or completely destroyed, and large areas were flooded. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, ‘Helene’ was the most severe storm in the region in fifty years.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
