Hurricane Milton 2024

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton Devastates Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2024

In October 2024, Hurricane Milton made a destructive landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, bringing widespread damage and disruptions. The storm, which had intensified to a Category 5 hurricane with winds of up to 180 mph over the Gulf of Mexico, eventually struck near Siesta Key as a Category 3 system on October 9. While the hurricane weakened before landfall, it still caused significant destruction across the region.

Communities along the coast were hit hardest by storm surges, flooding, and damaging winds. Tampa, Siesta Key, and Venice saw heavy flooding, debris-covered roads, and damaged infrastructure. Several homes in Tampa had their roofs ripped off, and streets were submerged in water. In Siesta Key, flooding and wind left streets filled with debris, while parts of Venice experienced beach erosion and property damage at popular sites like Humphris Park.

Beyond flooding and wind damage, Milton also triggered dozens of tornadoes across the state, compounding the destruction. Despite the storm not being as catastrophic as initially feared, the aftermath has left millions without power and facing extensive cleanup efforts.

As Florida moves into recovery mode, state and federal agencies are coordinating to restore services and provide aid to the affected areas, though the path to full recovery is expected to take months.