Hurricane Milton live updates: 17 dead as Florida power outages and flooding persist

Owners and tenants of Tropicana Field, ravaged in the face of Hurricane Milton, are facing a short 5-month window to somehow make the severely damaged Tampa Rays home suitable for MLB play.

Hurricane Milton’s powerful winds overnight Wednesday nearly ripped the entire roof off St. Petersburg-owned Tropicana Field, which had been set for use by workers responding to the storm.

With rescue and cleanup efforts still front of mind in the Tampa Bay region, the city of St. Petersburg is a long way from making any decisions on how to fix the tattered stadium, officials said Friday.

Read the full story here.

Hurricane Milton brought an earlier-than-expected dose of chaos before it made landfall this week, as supercell thunderstorms — which feature rotating updrafts and can produce tornadoes — raced across the state.

The resulting twisters led the National Weather Service to issue 126 tornado warnings, and the agency’s Storm Prediction Center fielded 45 preliminary reports of tornadoes. 

As Florida begins the long process of cleaning up and recovering from Hurricane Milton, the tornado outbreak has emerged as a leading cause of death and damage in a state that is accustomed to tropical storms, but less familiar with powerful twisters. 

Read the full story here.

Yvonne Hemz was scheduled to have a cancerous tumor removed from her kidney Tuesday.

On Sunday, however, Hemze, 52, of Farmington, Minnesota, got a call from the hospital, Abbott Northwestern, telling her that her surgery had been canceled. The hospital was getting reduced shipments of intravenous fluids, essential for patients during surgeries, after Hurricane Helene damaged a Baxter International facility in North Carolina, leading to its temporary closure. The plant is the nation’s largest producer of IV fluids. 

Hemze said she hasn’t been able to get in contact with her doctor since the cancellation and fears her cancer will only get worse. 

“The cancer is not going to stop growing just because they can’t have their surgery,” she said. 

Read the full story here.

Treasure Island Fire Chief Trip Barrs give an update on the state of the island after Hurricane Milton, saying they completed their search and rescue operations and will shift to recovery efforts. 

Video posted today by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department showed rescuers evacuating a 91-year-old woman who was trapped by flooding in Lithia, a community about 20 miles southeast of Tampa. The sheriff's office said floodwater in the area had reached 6 feet near the still-rising Alafia River.

President Joe Biden said today that experts’ early estimates are that Hurricane Milton caused $50 billion in damage.

“Experts estimate — and it’s early estimates, it could be more, could be less — but estimates that it caused damages around $50 billion from Hurricane Milton alone. Just alone, $50 billion,” Biden said in an update about the hurricane and response efforts today.

“I want everyone in the impacted areas to know, we’re going to do everything we can to let you, help you pick back up the pieces, to get back to where you were,” Biden said.

Biden said Congress will have to act to help devastated areas recover.

“We’re going to be going to the Congress,” Biden said. “We’re going to need a lot of help. I need a lot more money, as we identify specifically how much is needed.”

Biden also said he believes House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is "going to get the message that he’s got to step up, particularly for small businesses."

Two days after Hurricane Milton flooded The Standard at 2690 Apartments, representatives from the company that manages the 16-acre complex showed up and barred tenants from returning to their homes.

“We’ll send out an email blast or text messages to let you know when it’s safe and we can send, like, scheduled times for you guys to come back once they tell us it’s OK, but you cannot hang out here,” Angela Lentsch of Infinity BH told a group of tenants gathered in the parking lot. “You can’t stay here. We just, we need you guys to basically disperse.” 

This was not the message the tenants received from Lentsch before Milton made landfall Wednesday night in Siesta Key, some 70 miles south of Clearwater, and roared across the midsection of Florida, killing at least 16 people, swamping thousands of homes and businesses, and doing damage valued in potentially billions of dollars.

Read the full story here.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will remain closed until Oct. 16 because of damage suffered during Hurricane Milton.

Photos shared on X show damage to the "entire roof" of Concourse B that covered a screening checkpoint and 13 aircraft loading gates.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport announced today that it will reopen Saturday.

Tampa International Airport's first flight since Tuesday departed at 8 this morning.

Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando International Airport and Orlando Sanford International Airport all resumed operations today.

NBC News has confirmed a total of 17 people that died as a result of Hurricane Milton in Florida.

There was one death in Citrus County, two deaths in Pinellas County, six in St. Lucie County, four in Volusia County, one in Polk County, two in Hillsborough County and one in Orange County.

Milton touched down near Siesta Key in Sarasota County on Wednesday night.

Back-to-back destructive hurricanes are putting Florida’s insurance system to the test. Florida Policy Project President and former state Sen. Jeff Brandes joins Chris Jansing to provide more insight on the impact of the storms, saying property insurance companies will “take a hit” however they will get through it.

My rented sedan's gas tank was full Monday evening. But after reporting driving throughout Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, back and forth to Sarasota and everywhere in between, I have about another 50 miles in me before I hit empty.

Even with the — in theory — helpful GasBuddy app, I'm struggling to find a station with available fuel. Throughout the last hour, I've driven to at least four gas stations in the Tampa Bay area that, according to GasBuddy, have fuel, but in reality do not.

If you're in the Clearwater area and happen to have a Costco membership, don't mind waiting in what looks like an hourslong line: You're in luck! The Costco gas station in Clearwater has fuel. Unfortunately, for me, I'm not a member.

Of course, this is a minor inconvenience compared with the real hardship Floridians have faced in recent days.

Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene could end up having a real impact on how many voters cast a ballot this year. MSNBC legal correspondent Lisa Rubin and former Rep. David Jolly join Chris Jansing on the efforts in Florida and North Carolina to make it easier for residents to vote.

Over 77% of gas stations in Tampa are without fuel as of 1:32 p.m. ET today, according to gas tracking site GasBuddy.

Hurricane Milton has led to shortages across Florida. In Sarasota, over 62% of stations are running dry. Fort Myers and Naples are facing shortages as well, with over 42% of stations lacking fuel, GasBuddy reported.

Statewide, GasBuddy says almost 30% of gas stations are without fuel.

The shortage has led to reports of disputes at gas stations in Pisco County, just north of the Tampa Bay region.

"We realize demand is great and frustration can be high while the fuel companies work through restocking essential supplies, but we urge you to be patient and respectful of others," the Pisco County Sheriff's office said on Facebook.

During a briefing on recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton, President Biden continued to speak out against the “disgusting” and “dangerous” misinformation being spread about the federal government’s response to recent hurricanes.

Major flooding is continuing to increase in Hillsborough County in Hurricane Milton's wake, officials said today.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for some areas throughout the county, and residents are being advised to take extreme precautions as the Alafia River is expected to rise even further today, the release said.

"They’re not used to this amount of flooding in such a short period of time," said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in a press conference. "There’s cars underwater. Some homes are completely underwater."

Chronister added that they "haven't seen the worst of it yet," as the Alafia has not yet crested.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office posted video today of their team rescuing a Florida family in Dover, a community about 20 miles east of Tampa. The office says eight people were evacuated from a house flooded by 6 feet of water.

“Wings of Rescue” transports stray animals to safety. The charity’s CEO Ric Browde joins José Díaz-Balart to share more about their efforts to find these furry friends a forever home after Hurricane Milton left many stranded in Florida.

President Joe Biden will travel to Florida to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Milton on Sunday, the White House announced today.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tampa didn't see "the worst case, or really any case" of storm surge in the Tampa Bay area.

In a press conference today, he said that in addition to over 6,500 active Florida National Guard members, 23 urban search and rescue teams with over 1,600 people and 10 swift water teams have been deployed to assist with rescues. Over 1,600 individuals and over 140 animals have been rescued so far.

Nineteen school districts that were closed yesterday have reopened today. There are at least seven other school districts opening on Monday, according to the governor.

He added that 1.6 million power accounts have been restored, while 2.4 million are outstanding, as of 9 a.m. 

"Even where the storm made landfall, like Sarasota, there wasn’t as much damage to the power infrastructure," DeSantis said.

Tampa International Airport posted video today of its first flight since closing in anticipation of Hurricane Milton.

The Florida National Guard has assisted in the rescue of 330 people and 39 animals since the start of Hurricane Milton response operations, according to a FLNG press release.

In their 180 missions, they've cleared 1,304 miles of routes and 249 cubic yards of debris, the release said.

The FLNG has activated over 6,500 soldiers and airmen, including emergency management assistance compact units, in support of Hurricane Milton response efforts following Gov. Ron DeSantis' authorization.

A girl was born in a Pinellas County shelter, according to a Pinellas County media briefing this morning.

The shelter's staff helped with the delivery, said Pinellas County Director of Emergency Management Cathie Perkins.

"Just beautiful to see that new life in the middle of all this destruction," she said.

The American Athletic Conference announced that tomorrow's football game between South Florida and Memphis has been moved from Tampa to Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

The University of South Florida said in a statement that the game was moved in the interest of public safety and with respect for the response and recovery efforts underway in the Tampa Bay area following Hurricane Milton. They added that various logistical challenges related to the storm that affected both schools also contributed to the decision.

All USF campuses are closed until at least tomorrow, and classes have been canceled until then. The school says they will make a decision about resuming normal class schedules Monday after they further assess each campus and conditions around the Tampa Bay region. 

Disaster relief organizations like the Salvation Army are working to deliver emergency supplies to people who need them in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. NBC News’ Joe Fryer spoke with the director for the Salvation Army’s southern territory, Jeff Jellets, who described the relief effort as a “historic operation.”

SARASOTA, Fla. — The sun was shining again yesterday in the city that had been directly in the path of Hurricane Milton, and when survivors emerged from their hiding places, many were pleasantly surprised to find the damage wasn’t as bad as they had feared.

Most restaurants and grocery stores in Sarasota were shuttered, a few wrecked cars and trucks were strewn about like toys, some traffic lights were working while others were completely gone, and dozens of palm trees were snapped like twigs or reduced to splinters.

Famous cultural destinations such as the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the Sarasota Opera House remained closed, and so were many of the roads leading into this city of 55,000 — not that there was much traffic.

Read the full article here.

The family of a woman killed in a tornado outbreak in Lucie County on Florida's east coast Wednesday, brought on by Milton, are paying tribute to her as "the best mother anyone could ask for."

Deborah Kennedy, 66, was among at least six killed by a string of tornadoes across Treasure Coast and Palm Beach. Kennedy was inside the hard-hit Spanish Lakes Country Club retirement community.

"I would like the world knowing what an amazing person my mother was, that she was the best mother anybody could ask for," Kennedy's daughter told NBC affiliate WPTV of West Palm Beach.

At least 16 people are dead after Hurricane Milton tore across the central part of Florida and more than 2 million people are without power. NBC News’ Chase Cain reports from Daytona Beach on the aftermath caused by Milton.

After taking a direct hit from powerful and destructive Hurricane Milton, officials have reopened access to the barrier islands. Reporting from Fort Myers, NBC’s Sam Brock tours the extensive damage for "TODAY."

Sheriff's deputies used rafts, boats and amphibious vehicles to rescue 135 people from an assisted living home in Hillsborough County yesterday.

“This is extraordinary to see this type of flooding, especially in this type of area,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a video on Facebook.

The rescue at Great American Assisted Living Community, in the University Square district of Tampa, took place before 10 a.m. yesterday.

Communities in Florida are struggling to recover in the wake of Hurricane Milton, as millions of homes and businesses are still left without power. NBC's Stephanie Gosk reports for "TODAY."

After the turmoil of Milton, the U.S. Coast Guard said it was reopening ports across the southeastern United States today — but stressed that mariners should still be cautious.

In Florida, Key West, Port Everglades, Port Miami and the Miami River post have been reopened.  

In Georgia, Brunswick and Savannah are now open, while in South Carolina, Charleston and Georgetown have also reopened. 

Several ports are still closed across Florida, as emergency services assess the damage. These include: St. Petersburg, Fort Myers, Port of Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville and Fernandina. 

The Coast Guard added: "Stay off the water and out of the way of rescue crews unless you are playing a critical role in the response. This is not a time for disaster sightseeing."

There is at least some good news for communities rebuilding after the double shock of Helene and Milton: there will be no more rain, at least not for the next week.

The National Weather Service office in Tampa Bay said this morning that the next seven days looked dry, with temperatures in the 60s, normal for this time of year.

A man has been killed in Orange County, Florida, by a power line that came down during Hurricane Milton, police said in a statement this morning.

Officers were called to Pine Island Place on Pine Island at 4:53 p.m. yesterday, after receiving a report of an unresponsive man.

"When they arrived, they found a man in his 60s who was deceased in his yard. It appears the man stepped on a downed power line while cleaning debris from the storm," Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The unidentified man becomes the 16th person known to have been killed during Milton and its aftermath.

Pluto holding a girl in his paws while trekking through a flooded Disney World. Godzilla crying while cradling a giant bug in a flooded city street. A small girl in a lifejacket seated on a boat next to a green alien baby.

Absurd and comical rescue images that appear to have been made with artificial intelligence have sprung up on social media this week as Hurricane Milton hit Florida, a reaction to the earlier proliferation of more realistic fake images related to Hurricane Helene. 

Read the full article here.

The U.S. Coast Guard carried out the remarkable rescue yesterday of a man left holding on to a cooler overnight in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Milton.

The unidentified man was on board a fishing boat that got into trouble Wednesday off Madeira Beach, Florida, the Coast Guard said. He radioed for help but contact was lost at about 6:45 p.m.

He was found yesterday about 30 miles from Longboat Key clinging on to a cooler chest — video shared by the Coast Guard shows the moment he was rescued by a diver lowered by a helicopter.

"This man survived in a nightmare scenario for even the most experienced mariner," Coast Guard official Dana Grady said in a statement.

The man was taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment, but his status is not known.

Tampa Police confirmed that a woman died from a falling tree branch yesterday.

That brings the total number of people known to have died as a result of Hurricane Milton to 15.

Police said in a statement that officers responded to Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, after 11 a.m. yesterday after a report of a large branch collapsing.

"Upon arrival, officers located an adult female in her early 70s underneath the branch. The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene," the statement said.

The statement added that according to preliminary investigations, the unidentified woman died while "post-hurricane restoration efforts were being done on the property," adding that the death appeared to be accidental.

“Although the storm has passed, its devastation has tragically taken the life of one of our community members," Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said. "Our thoughts are with the family as they grieve their loved one."

Tampa Bay may have dodged the worst-case scenario when the path of Hurricane Milton swerved away from it and instead slammed into Sarasota County near Siesta Key.

But the historic levels rainfall — 12 inches in Tampa, more than five times the normal level for all of October, and up to 18 inches in St. Pete — is causing huge problems, including areas that weren't in the evacuation zones.

"We’re talking a foot and a half of rainfall, and now that is what is leading to those lower-lying areas where you hear people say, 'Well we don’t normally flood. We’re not in an evacuation zone,'" Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Amanda Holly with NBC affiliate WFLA of Tampa said.

"Well, when you get 18 inches of rain over a big area, yeah, you will see abnormally high water levels get into areas that don’t normally flood."

It is already the wettest year on record for Tampa, Holly added.

Hurricane Milton could result in losses of up to $100 billion for the global insurance industry, creating a surge in 2025 reinsurance prices that could boost some insurance companies’ shares, analysts said Wednesday.

Millions of people across Florida are picking up the pieces after a second devastating hurricane, and Pinellas County is warning people not to also become victims of scammers.

Pinellas County Consumer Protection told residents last night to be cautious of companies and individuals offering repair services, to always research contractors and to never pay for the full job in advance.

"Beware of any contractor who tells you that extensive or structural repairs do not require a permit. The contractor should pull the required building permits, not the homeowner," the advice said.

State-certified contractors can be searched on an online database of vehicle license plates.

See the full advice here.

The Drew family returned to its Punta Gorda home for the first time since the destruction of Hurricane Milton. NBC News’ Dana Griffin talks to the family members about the impact of the storm on their home. 

Trenton Knepp, whose home flooded during Hurricane Helene, talked to NBC News’ Tom Llamas about riding out Hurricane Milton in his Sarasota County home and reeling from the aftermath. 

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office captured the dramatic moment yesterday when Sheriff Chad Chronister and his team rescued a 14-year-old boy who was just about floating on a submerged wooden fence in deep floodwaters.

More than 24 hours after Hurricane Milton made landfall, more than 2.5 million energy customers are still without power, according to PowerOutage.us.

Many face the prospect of days if not weeks in the dark, although state and federal workers were deployed even before the storm hit to get networks up and running.

TAMPA, Fla. — 54-year-old Joseph Malinowski, who has been dubbed “Lieutenant Dan” on social media, has survived record-breaking Hurricane Milton on his 20-foot sailboat.

Malinowski, who drew nationwide interest and concern over his highly publicized decision to ride out Hurricanes Helene and Milton on his vessel, chose to remain in the boat here despite several attempts from officials to safely evacuate him. Followers offered Malinowski shelter — both in nearby hotels and in their own homes — which he turned down.

Read the full story here.

It was 4 a.m. ET Wednesday when Kenzie Lewellen’s labor began at her home in Port Charlotte, Florida, with Hurricane Milton hurtling toward the Gulf Coast.

Lewellen and her boyfriend, Dewey Bennett, 24, were both on edge.

Milton hadn’t hit yet, but the couple’s house was already taking in water before Lewellen’s contractions began.

Lewellen, a first-time mom, was 39 weeks pregnant, and the couple knew that if she “didn’t start having contractions until during the storm the roads would have been flooded and we were going to have a tough time getting” to the hospital, Bennett said.

Read the full story here.

Baseless conspiracy theories about weather modification and false claims about disaster relief efforts have continued to spread on X in recent days, with misinformation about Hurricane Milton adding to a mountain of false rumors about Hurricane Helene and its aftermath.

The spread has sparked a push from local and federal officials, along with some politicians, who have decried the spread of misinformation and outlandish claims about the origins of the storms.

But that has done little to quell some of the loudest voices.

Read the full story here.

Florida resident Roy Schultheis talks to NBC News’ Tom Llamas about the damage that Hurricane Milton caused to his Palm Beach Gardens home.