The Tampa Bay area managed to avoid the most catastrophic predictions of storm surge from Hurricane Milton as the storm veered southward before making landfall, according to Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday morning.
While acknowledging the significant impact of the storm, Governor DeSantis expressed relief that the situation did not escalate to the worst-case scenario initially feared.
One of the most immediate consequences of Hurricane Milton was widespread power outages affecting over three million electric customers, along with flooding caused by heavy rainfall.
The governor highlighted that certain areas, such as Pinellas and coastal Hillsborough counties, experienced isolated pockets of up to 18 inches of rainfall. St. Petersburg, in particular, faced an extraordinary weather event with 18.31 inches of rain, equivalent to a 1-in-1,000 year rainfall occurrence.
The impact of the storm extended beyond coastal regions, with flooding reaching further inland around Tampa. Additionally, the powerful winds associated with Hurricane Milton caused damage to Tropicana Field, tearing off its roof covering. Sarasota County witnessed storm surge levels of up to 10 feet.
As emergency responders evaluate the aftermath of the storm, Kevin Guthrie, the head of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, advised residents in the affected areas to remain indoors for the time being.
Guthrie emphasized that despite the governor's reassurance that the situation was not as severe as initially anticipated, there is still significant damage that needs to be addressed.
