Hurricane Milton Aftermath: 17 Lives Lost, Catastrophic Flooding, and Widespread Power Outages

On Wednesday, Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 storm, leaving behind a trail of destruction. By the next day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Milton had moved off Florida’s coast and eventually downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone.  Despite the hurricane simmering down, the aftermath of the natural disaster has left the state dismantled.

According to reports, Florida residents have stated that they’ve been dealing with flooding, downed power lines, and significant property damage.  But, the most heartbreaking news came after 17 individuals were reported deceased as a result of the hurricane or the damaging aftermath.  Authorities warned that there could be an increase in the death toll as search and rescue efforts continue.  Specifically, in one incident in Orange County, deputies reported that a man lost his life after he stepped on a live power line while clearing out debris in his yard.

Additionally, the destruction of Milton also claimed the lives of a handful of individuals in South Florida prior to the hurricane making landfall. Officials confirmed six people unfortunately lost their lives as tornados swept to the neighborhoods. Volusia County reported four storm-related deaths, including a 54-year-old woman who was killed after a tree fell on her house. A similar incident occurred in Ormond Beach with a 79-year-old woman.

Another victim, a 34-year-old Daytona man, passed away from a cardiac incident due to emergency responders not being able to reach him in time. The fourth death was also in Volusia County, where the individual suffered from a cardiac incident while attempting to board up their house windows in preparation for the hurricane.

Outside of the tragic deaths, residents have experienced severe flooding as a result of hurricane rain and saturated soil from the previous weeks. Nonetheless, authorities are urging residents returning to the state to proceed with caution and be mindful of hazards such as downed power lines and unstable building structures.