David Knowles
Milton full coverage: Hurricane downgraded to post-tropical cyclone, with at least 10 people killed, 3 million left without power in its destructive path
The National Hurricane Center continues to warn about "life-threatening storm surge."
At least 10 people were killed in Florida as tornadoes from Hurricane Milton ripped through the state, officials said on Thursday.
More than 3 million homes and businesses in Florida were without power after the storm, Milton was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Thursday. It made landfall late Wednesday as an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 storm near Siesta Key.
The roof of Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays, was ripped off by severe winds.
Milton is currently moving northeast off Florida's coast and continues to pack 75 mph winds, the National Hurricane Center said in its 4 p.m. ET update.
"There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the coast from east-central Florida northward to southern Georgia," meteorologists said.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER172 updates
2 Florida tornado victims identified
Two Floridians killed Wednesday afternoon when a tornado hit Fort Pierce were identified by a relative, the New York Times reported.
They are Alejandro Alonso, 66, and Mary Grace Viramontez, 70.
The pair had been dating and were killed when a tornado spawned by the arrival of Hurricane Milton ripped through the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, according to Victor Linero, Alonso's grandson.
EPA shares tips on safely returning to a flooded home
The Environmental Protection Agency shared tips Thursday on returning safely to a home if it was flooded during Hurricane Milton.
The agency's website has a list of suggestions for entering and cleaning up a mess left behind in a flood. Under an entry titled "Before You Enter," for instance, the EPA offers the following guidance: "Look for things like roofs that sag in the middle or at the ends, walls that are not straight, missing support columns, new cracks in the exterior, or leaning of basement walls, crawlspaces, or piers. If you see any of these, assume the building is unsafe. Don't climb or go into the building until it has been verified by a qualified professional as safe to enter."
Read more from the EPA.
House Speaker Johnson says it is 'premature' to call Congress back to pass further disaster relief
House Speaker Mike Johnson rebuffed President Biden's suggestion that Congress be called back into session to pass further authorization for disaster relief spending, saying doing so would be "premature."
"They have tens of billions of dollars sitting in FEMA," Johnson told NBC News on Thursday. "That's what's needed right now in the states that are affected."
Johnson added, "It's going to take them a number of weeks to ... assess the damage levels. When they get the numbers ... Congress will act immediately."
Earlier in the day, Biden was asked whether Congress should come back early from its recess to pass more disaster funding.
"I think Congress should move as rapidly as they can, particularly on the most immediate need, which is small business," Biden said.
Here's how to help victims of Hurricane Milton
In the wake of Hurricane Milton's path, millions are without power, homes, vehicles and infrastructure. It all comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene's destruction at the end of September. While federal and state agencies are working to help local communities across Florida, here are some ways to help those in need:
National support includes donating to the American Red Cross, which supports shelters for people who have evacuated their homes. If you are able, you can also make an appointment to donate blood via the Red Cross website.
The Florida Disaster Fund distributes money to service organizations that help with recovery and disaster response throughout the state.
The Federal Trade Commission also has some helpful tips on how to spot scammers who pose as charities accepting donations.
Read more from NBC News about other ways to help.
Coast Guard rescues man 'clinging to cooler' off Florida coast
The U.S. Coast Guard on Thursday said a helicopter crew "rescued a man clinging to a cooler" in the Gulf of Mexico, around 30 miles out from Longboat Key, Fla.
#Breaking An @USCG Air Station Miami 65 helicopter crew rescued a man clinging to a cooler approximately 30 mi. off Longboat Key.
The man was taken to Tampa General Hospital for medical care.
Sector St. Pete lost communications w/ the man at approx. 6:45 p.m., Wed. #SAR pic.twitter.com/64wSHuRAeH— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) October 10, 2024
Photos show heartbreaking Florida tornado damage
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said during Thursday's White House briefing that 27 tornadoes touched down in Florida as a result of Hurricane Milton, which is believed to be the cause of 10 deaths thus far. The tornadoes that sprang from the storm also wreaked havoc in areas like Fort Myers and Wellington.
At least 340 people rescued across Florida, DeSantis says
At least 340 people and 49 pets have been rescued in the wake of Hurricane Milton, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press briefing on Thursday afternoon.
"Hundreds of rescuers" were working on over 120 search and-rescue missions across 26 of Florida's 67 counties, DeSantis added.
Of the more than 3 million homes and businesses currently without power, DeSantis said that 880,000 utility customers have had their power restored by linemen working around the clock.
Tampa Bay Lightning's home opener postponed in Milton's wake
The Tampa Bay Lightning's home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday has been postponed due to Hurricane Milton's effects on the Tampa area, the NHL announced Thursday. A makeup date will be announced at a later time.
Milton had already forced the Lightning to evacuate to Raleigh, N.C., ahead of Friday's season opener against the Hurricanes. And as Yahoo Sports notes, a number of Lightning "experienced property damage after Hurricane Helene affected the area."
Our game on Saturday vs. Carolina at @AmalieArena has been postponed as the Tampa Bay region recovers from the effects of Hurricane Milton. A new date will be announced at a later time.
Our thoughts are with all those affected. ??
Info: https://t.co/SGrvXgwe8e pic.twitter.com/V1cFQ21evo— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) October 10, 2024
What's the status of Florida's major airports?
Hurricane Milton forced the closure of several Florida airports and caused thousands of flight cancellations. Here's the latest on when they'll reopen:
Orlando International Airport: Departures will begin again on Friday, Oct. 11, with a few domestic flight arrivals Thursday night. "Please don't come to the airport for a departing flight tonight," the airport said in an X post.
Palm Beach International Airport: It has reopened as of 1 p.m. ET Thursday. The airport advises travelers to check with the airline before coming to the airport.
Southwest Florida International Airport: It remains closed on Thursday and is expected to resume operations on Friday, Oct. 11, according to its website.
Tampa International Airport: It remains closed on Thursday. It will reopen at 8 a.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 11, according to the airport's post on X.
Miami International Airport: It is open on Thursday, but flights have been affected by the storm. The airport advises travelers to confirm the status of their flight with the airline.
Biden to Trump: 'Get a life, man. Help these people.'
At the end of his remarks on the administration's hurricane response, President Biden was asked by a reporter whether he had spoken to former President Donald Trump, who has amplified the false claim that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has diverted disaster relief funds to house migrants in the United States.
"Are you kidding me?" Biden said before turning to the camera and appearing to address Trump directly. "President Trump — former President Trump: Get a life, man. Help these people."
As Biden walked away, he was asked if he planned to speak to Trump.
"No," he said.
Biden says Congress should move 'as rapidly as they can' for Small Business Association funding
President Biden gave an update on the aftermath of Hurricane Milton on Thursday and was asked by a reporter how much time Congress has before FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and SBA (Small Business Administration) funding runs out.
Biden focused on the funding needs of SBA, which FEMA partners with. According to the FEMA website, the SBA "offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters in a declared major disaster area. You don’t need to own a business to apply for SBA assistance."
Biden said that while FEMA "has its needs," the SBA funding is "right at the edge right now."
When asked directly if he thinks Congress should come back early, Biden replied, "I think Congress should move as rapidly as they can, particularly on the most immediate need, which is small business."
Biden added that he has not spoken to House Speaker Mike Johnson about calling Congress back into session before the election.
Photos: Homes destroyed by Milton
With cleanup and restoration efforts already underway across Florida, photos and videos of the damage inflicted by Hurricane Milton continue to emerge.
These images show toppled homes in several beach communities on Florida's west coast where Milton came ashore.
Milton is now a 'post-tropical cyclone,' NHC says
In its 2 p.m. ET advisory, the National Hurricane Center said Milton is now a post-tropical cyclone as it continues to move away from Florida's east coast.
The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, is about 200 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral.
Tropical storm conditions continue for portions of the Southeastern U.S. coastline, the hurricane center said, and a storm surge warning remains in effect from the Flagler-Volusia County line in Florida to Altamaha Sound, Ga., including the St. Johns River.
Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas: 'We have 10 confirmed fatalities'
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said during Thursday's White House press briefing that Hurricane Milton's arrival in Florida had resulted in at least 10 deaths.
"We have 10 confirmed fatalities, our understanding is that those fatalities were caused by the tornadoes," Mayorkas said. "But I just want to introduce a little bit of tentativeness to that because of the fluidity of the situation and how nascent it is. It is our job to make sure that that number doesn't climb through valiant search and rescue efforts, but we are dealing in the immediate aftermath of a terrible hurricane and many, many tornadoes ancillary to it."
Biden convenes Situation Room meeting on federal hurricane response
President Biden is holding a Situation Room meeting Thursday with Vice President Kamala Harris and various members of the administration about the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to a statement from the White House press office.
The president and his administration are discussing the "role that the Department of Defense and Coast Guard are playing in support of FEMA’s mission," the statement read. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are among the participants.
Biden is scheduled to speak about Milton from the White House later Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier, Biden spoke with numerous Florida officials, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, about helping the state's recovery efforts.
Disney prepares to reopen Florida theme parks on Friday
Walt Disney World indicated on its website Thursday afternoon that it is preparing to reopen its Florida theme parks and the Disney Springs shopping district on Friday, Oct. 11.
Its theme parks, Disney Springs and parking garages remain closed on Thursday.
Palm Beach International Airport reopens; travelers advised to check with airlines
Palm Beach International Airport announced that as of 1 p.m. ET it had reopened, but also noted that some flights had been canceled and advised travelers to check with their airline before heading to the airport.
Oct. 10, 1:00 p.m.: PBI has reopened. There are still some cancellations so check with your airline before coming to the airport. Plan to arrive two hours before your scheduled departure. Limited shopping and dining available. ???? #FlyPBI #HurricaneMilton pic.twitter.com/a4Ud79h7VM
— Palm Beach International Airport (@flyPBI) October 10, 2024
DeSantis says there are currently about 3.4 million power outages across the state
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a Thursday news conference that the state has had "massive power outages, which was expected." He said there are currently about 3.4 million homes and businesses without power, while power has been restored to 700,000 customers since the start of the storm. He likened the number of outages to Hurricanes Ian and Irma.
"Just do the math, over 4 million have lost power since the start of the storm," DeSantis said.
Gov. DeSantis confirms 5 deaths as a result of Hurricane Milton
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at a news conference in Fort Pierce Thursday that five deaths, all in St. Lucie County, have been confirmed as a result of Hurricane Milton.
Drone video shows Tampa highway with major flooding
After Hurricane Milton brought storm surges and torrential rain, roadways in the Tampa area are flooded, leaving them impassable to motorists.
Drone video captured by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday shows the floodwater damage
(@HCSOSheriff via Storyful)
Cover thumbnail photo: Mike Stewart/AP