Hurricane Milton caused significant damage in Florida, including tornadoes, power outages for 3.3 million customers, and flooding that put 11 million people at risk and resulted in at least 11 deaths. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 in Siesta Key before moving into the Atlantic Ocean. St. Lucie County reported five deaths from tornadoes, while St. Petersburg had two deaths and Volusia County had three. There was widespread destruction, with homes submerged, roads destroyed, and debris scattered. Despite reaching a high of 107 mph winds in some areas and record rainfall in others, the storm surge was not as severe as predicted. More than 80,000 people sought shelter, and search and rescue teams saved numerous individuals. President Biden mobilized federal personnel, including Coast Guard members, to assist in the recovery efforts. Over 3,000 flights were impacted by the storm, which was still a Category 1 hurricane with 85 mph winds moving away from the coast. Milton made landfall quickly after Hurricane Helene, breaking a record for the shortest time between two major hurricanes in Florida. Helene, which caused fatalities in several states, including 25 in Florida, resulted in at least 243 deaths in the region.
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Millions at risk due to tornadoes, flooding, and power outages
