Hurricane Milton: Nine people killed by tornadoes and millions without power
'Milton has now arrived with a vengeance': ITV News US Correspondent Robert Moore is in Florida where Hurricane Milton has left three million without power, and forced millions to evacuate
At least nine people have been killed and millions are without power after Hurricane Milton cut a path of destruction throughout Florida.
US President Joe Biden said although weather conditions in Florida remain dangerous, "lifesaving measures did make a difference" in saving lives.
Of the nine killed, one person was hit by a falling tree in Ormond Beach, another crashed into a tree in Citrus County, two others were killed in St Petersburg and at least five died in St Lucie County.
The deaths in St Lucie County were believed to have come after the Spanish Lakes Country Club was struck by multiple tornadoes, leaving homes destroyed.
The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120mph, whipping up at least 150 tornadoes across the state.
More than 3.4 million homes and businesses have been left without electricity, and a number of people have had to be rescued from homes damaged by falling trees and floodwaters.
In the wake of the destruction caused by the storm, Biden issued a warning to those trying to exploit its victims.
Homes have had their roofs ripped off by the wind and flood water has submerged entire streets
He said: "To anyone who seeks to take advantage of our fellow American's desperation - whether you're a company engaging in price gouging or a citizen trying to scam your neighbours, we will go after you and we will hold you accountable."
Despite the damage caused by Milton, Governor Ron DeSantis said it was not “the worst case scenario", in a press conference on Thursday.
“We will better understand the extent of the damage as the day progresses,” he said. “The storm was significant but thankfully, this was not the worst case scenario.”
Florida state officials said they completed more than 40 rescues overnight and crews would be going door to door in some areas on Thursday.
In Tampa, police said they rescued 15 people from a single-story home damaged by a fallen tree.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a post on X that more than 135 residents were helped to safety from an assisted living facility using boats.
They also rescued a 14-year-old boy who was submerged in floodwaters and floating on debris.
Blackouts from the extreme weather have plunged almost three million people into darkness, as power outages blight the state.
Milton has left 70% of Tampa Electric's utility customers in the dark, with CEO Archie Collins stating the full extent of damage to the local power grid isn't known as it is still unsafe for crews to travel.
He noted that Milton was the worst he's ever witnessed when it comes to damage to power systems.
Parts of Florida were hit with extreme rainfall, including Tampa, which saw up to 18 inches (45 centimetres) in areas of the city.
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Sarasota County suffered the worst of the storm surge, which rose to between eight and ten feet high (around three metres).
Milton has since been downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane as it moves away from Florida, with winds of up to 95mph.
Storm surge warnings remained on Thursday for Florida's east coast and north into the state of Georgia, while tropical storm warnings were in place into South Carolina.
Earlier on Thursday, a rare life-threatening flash flood warning was issued to more than 2.5 million people across Orlando, Deltona and Daytona Beach.
Flash flood emergency statements generally mean life-threatening catastrophic water rising events are already underway or expected to occur in the immediate future.
Severe flooding was reported in Plant City, situated just inland from Tampa. City Manager Bill McDaniel said emergency crews rescued 35 people overnight after the city received 13.5 inches (34 cm) of rain.
“We have flooding in places and to levels that I’ve never seen, and I’ve lived in this community for my entire life,” he said in a video posted online on Thursday morning.
In some places, a month's worth of average rainfall fell in a number of hours.
Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team in the city St. Petersburg, had its roof ripped to shreds by fierce winds. It is not clear if the damage continued inside.
St. Petersburg residents can no longer get water from their household taps because a water main break led the city to shut down service.
At least one crane in the city collapsed due to Milton's high winds at the site of a high-rise construction site.
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