By hannover-web.com After Hurricane Milton swept through Central Florida, the devastation is overwhelming, leaving significant injuries and losses in its wake. Power outages, water shortages, and internet disruptions have become the norm, as residents begin the daunting task of rebuilding their homes. The images from Manasota Key on the coast of West Florida on the 11th paint a grim picture, with shattered windows and debris scattered everywhere.
In just two weeks, Florida has been battered by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and residents are now learning to cope with this rare storm experience as they start the recovery process. Florida’s Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez reported on the situation on the 12th, indicating that the state is grappling with issues such as flooding, power outages, and natural gas shortages. The largest number of National Guard troops in history has been deployed to aid in the aftermath.
Flooding continues to pose a threat as Milton has caused several rivers in Central and Northern Florida to overflow, with slow receding levels complicating rescue efforts, which are ongoing as of the 12th. According to CNN meteorologists, the Tampa area near the downstream of the Hillsborough River remains in a critical flooding situation, with the potential for more water overflow in the coming days. Since Milton made landfall on the night of the 9th, more than 1,200 people have been rescued, while others remain trapped in waterlogged homes.
Power restoration efforts are showing progress, with more than one million customers having their power restored between the morning of the 10th and the afternoon of the 11th. However, as of the afternoon of the 12th, around 1.4 million households were still without power, according to PowerOutage.us. Governor Ron DeSantis reported that by 3 PM on the 12th, 2.65 million customers had their power restored.
Gasoline shortages persist across the state. According to the fuel tracking platform GasBuddy, fuel supplies in the Tampa Bay area remain tight, with over 75% of gas stations reporting outages on the afternoon of the 11th. Almost 30% of gas stations across Florida are dry, and 77.5% of the shortages are occurring in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region. Kevin Guthrie, the Director of Florida’s Emergency Management, noted that over 37.3 million gallons of fuel were delivered to Florida’s ports by noon on the 12th, and the state has dispatched law enforcement to escort fuel trucks to various gas stations.
Airports, seaports, and theme parks are beginning to reopen. Tampa International Airport resumed operations after three days of closure, while Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport will remain closed until 9 AM Eastern time on the 16th as staff work to assess storm damage. The Coast Guard has reopened some ports in Florida, as well as several in Georgia and South Carolina; however, many ports in Florida remained closed as of the 11th. Popular attractions, including Disney World, Orlando Water Park, Discovery Cove, and SeaWorld Orlando have reopened their doors. However, Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa Bay remained closed on the 12th.
