Florida Faces Power Outages and Loss After Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton left millions of Floridians without power and claimed nine lives after tearing through the state with strong winds, flooding, and tornadoes. The Category 3 storm hit Siesta Key near Tampa Bay on Wednesday evening, causing widespread damage and disruption. St. Lucie County saw four fatalities due to tornadoes, while St. Petersburg and Volusia County reported additional deaths. Authorities have implemented curfews to manage the situation safely. Around 3 million people were affected by power outages, and over 2,200 flights were canceled, with many in Orlando. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor noted that the city escaped major injuries thanks to residents taking precautions. President Biden urged people to stay indoors due to hazards like downed power lines and flooding. The Tampa Bay Rays' stadium, Tropicana Field, suffered significant roof damage. Governor Ron DeSantis stressed that the state avoided the worst-case scenario, as the storm weakened before hitting Tampa.