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Florida
Hurricane Milton Live Updates: More Than 3 Million Without Power—But DeSantis Says Storm ‘Not The Worst Case Scenario’
Topline
More than 3 million homes and businesses were without power early Thursday as Hurricane Milton pulled away from Florida as a category 1 storm after spawning multiple tornadoes and major flooding as it moved through the state overnight.
Debris and an awning of a gas station sits on the ground the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the … [+]
Key Facts
8 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 —The National Hurricane Center placed Hurricane Milton about 75 miles east-northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, with maximum wind speeds of 85 mph.
The only remaining hurricane warning in effect at 8 a.m. was for Florida’s east coast from Sebastian Inlet northward to the Flagler/Volusia County line.
A tropical storm warning was in effect for Florida’s east coast south of Sebastian Inlet to the Palm Beach/Martin County line, Lake Okeechobee, and north of the Flagler/Volusia County line to Edisto Beach, South Carolina.
6 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 — Orlando Police and Orlando Fire officials were “back on the road” early on Thursday after having to shelter in place during the hurricane, while Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office also said it has begun rescue operations.
4:40 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 — According to the National Hurricane Center, Milton has now moved past Florida’s east coast but was still producing “damaging hurricane-force winds” and heavy rains in the state’s east-central region.
4 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 — Almost a million more customers have lost power across Florida in the last few hours; more than 3 million homes and businesses are now facing outages, according to PowerOutage.US.
3:45 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 — Authorities in Plant City, located in the Tampa Bay Area, warned residents to avoid standing water due to the “possible danger of live electrical lines” and wastewater contamination—while officials in city of St. Petersburg were forced to shut down the drinking water supply at midnight due to a potential line break.
2:15 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 — A large crane collapsed and smashed into the side of a building in downtown St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Times reported, adding that the incident occurred near the newspaper’s main office and smoke was billowing out of the affected building.
According to the Associated Press the crane had been set up the construction site of a 515-foot-tall luxury high-rise building and local fire officials said there are no reports of any injuries from the collapse.
2 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 — The National Hurricane Center update showed Milton has weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moves through Central Florida but the agency warned that “damaging winds and heavy rains” will continue to pose a threat.
12:45 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 — The National Weather Service said the center of the Hurricane is now moving inland towards Central Florida after battering the Tampa Bay area with peak wind speeds of above 100 mph on Wednesday night.
12:30 a.m. EDT, Oct 10 — Strong winds from Milton appeared to damage a portion of the roof of Tropicana Field—the Tampa Bay Rays’ home venue—although there were no reports of any injuries to people inside the stadium. According to the Associated Press, the ballpark is being used as a staging site for workers who have been brought in to deal with the hurricane’s aftermath.
11:45 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — A tornado outbreak in Florida’s St. Lucie County and the East Coast resulted in multiple fatalities earlier on Wednesday, the local sheriff’s office said.
11:15 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — According to PowerOutage.US around 2 million customers were without power across Florida amid reports of the hurricane spawning multiple tornadoes across its path on Wednesday night.
8:30 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — Milton made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.
7 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — The “northern eyewall” of Milton was moving into the Tampa Bay area, with forecasters urging those in the area to “shelter in place.”
6:36 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — The National Weather Service issued an extreme wind warning for Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties in the Tampa Bay area as “extreme winds, associated with the eyewall of Hurricane Milton, were moving onshore,” telling those in the warning area to “Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to the safe room in your shelter.”
6 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — Hurricane-force wind gusts of 77 mph have been recorded at a WeatherFlow station at Egmont Channel at the mouth of Tampa Bay, about 15 minutes from St. Petersburg, according to the National Hurricane Center.
4 p.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — The NHC warned tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rain had reached the western coast of Florida, and urged anyone in a tornado watch area to be ready to quickly shelter (see below).
11:30 a.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — Tampa’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge closed to all traffic as wind speeds pick up.
11:12 a.m. EDT, Oct. 9 — Waffle House announced dozens of its locations in Tampa, Fort Myers, Orlando and beyond would be closed starting Wednesday afternoon, marking Milton as a “red” on the federally recognized “Waffle House Index” (see below).
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Where Is Hurricane Milton Headed Next?
Hurricane Milton is pulling away from Florida’s east coast and is expected to pass to the north of the Bahamas and be back to the Atlantic by Thursday afternoon, but the NHC still predicted “strong gust winds and heavy rainfall” near the space coast. It also warned of tropical storm conditions in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as a result of Milton. The storm will continue moving east-northeast through Thursday before taking a turn east Thursday night.
Crucial Quote
“The storm was significant but thankfully this was not the worst case scenario,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference Thursday. “The storm did weaken before landfall and the storm surge, as initially reported, has not been as significant overall as what was observed for Hurricane Helene.”
What To Watch For
The total number of casualties from the storm. DeSantis said Thursday “it seems very likely that there were some with the tornadoes” and recognized there had been reports of deaths—officials in St. Lucie County confirmed on Thursday there were at least four deaths from tornadoes in the area—but said his office has not yet confirmed any.
What Is Storm Surge And Where Could It Be The Worst?
Storm surge is the abnormal rise of seawater level caused by a storm. The NHC warned the combination of storm surge and the tide will cause areas that are normally dry near the coast to be flooded. Officials warned of storm surge as high as 13 feet in some parts of Florida. As of Thursday morning’s 8 a.m. EDT update, the storm surge warning for Florida’s west coast was discontinued, though a warning was in effect for Sebastian Inlet, Florida, to Altamaha Sound, Georgia, including the St. Johns River.
What Have Politicians Said About Hurricane Milton?
President Joe Biden addressed the country from the White House Tuesday morning and called Hurricane Milton “a matter of life and death.” He encouraged Florida residents in the path of the storm to evacuate “now” and postponed a planned international trip to Germany and Angola “in order to oversee preparations for and the response to Hurricane Milton.” Vice President Kamala Harris and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have been in a strange he-said-she-said about the incoming storm, with Harris accusing DeSantis of not taking her calls and “playing political games” DeSantis said Harris “has no role in this” and that he’s been communicating just fine with Biden, who also said he has been in touch. Biden said he gave DeSantis his personal phone number and told him to call if there is anything the federal government can do to help. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in an interview with CNN, “I can say without any dramatization whatsoever: If you choose to stay in one of those evacuation areas, you’re going to die.” Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday afternoon told CNN even if the category of the storm changed, “that is not actually a downgrade in terms of the danger and the dangerous potential of it,” urging Floridians to not rely on the designation “to their detriment.”
How Is Travel To Florida Impacted By Hurricane Milton?
Tampa International Airport closed at 9 a.m. Tuesday with plans to reopen “as soon as it is safe” later this week and Orlando International Airport closed at 8 a.m. Wednesday. More than 2,224 flights into and out of the United States were canceled as of 8 a.m. on Thursday, and another 423 were delayed. Orlando saw by far the most cancellations, with 485 flights originating there being canceled and 447 flights arriving there being canceled, followed by Tampa with about 220 canceled each way, according to Flight Aware. Major airlines have told passengers they can change their plans without paying a fare difference. Walt Disney World Resort is closed its parks beginning Wednesday morning—news that came after Goldman Sachs predicted the company is likely to take a nine-figure hit financially from the storm. Universal Resort Orlando announced Tuesday afternoon it will close at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday and remain closed Thursday. Legoland Florida Resort and SeaWorld Orlando will both be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, and Busch Gardens Tampa is now closed through Thursday.
Have Waffle Houses Closed For Hurricane Milton?
Yes. Tampa-area locations of Waffle House, the breakfast food chain, closed ahead of Milton’s projected landfall. The company cited the so-called “Waffle House Index” in a social media post explaining the decision, a reference to a scale invented by former Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) administrator Craig Fugate to judge the severity of a natural disaster. If Waffle Houses in an area are open and serving a full menu, it’s a green on the index, a limited menu is a yellow on the scale, meaning the local area could be without electricity or water, and the index goes to red if the locations close down, indicating the local community will be in need of significant help.
Key Background
Milton was the second major hurricane to hit Florida in two weeks. Hurricane Helene hit the state on Sept. 26, killing at least 20 in Florida, before going on to devastate parts of the southeastern United States. More than 220 people have died and hundreds more are still missing, with western North Carolina taking the brunt of flooding that the state’s governor says wiped communities “off the map.” In Florida, people are still working to clear debris from Helene as the next storm bears down. Before Hurricane Milton made landfall, Hillsborough County, home to Tampa, ordered evacuations for areas near Tampa Bay and for all mobile and manufactured homes by Tuesday night. Lee County, home to Fort Myers, issued a mandatory evacuation order for the island of Fort Myers Beach. Other mandatory evacuation orders were issued in Pinellas County, Pasco County and Manatee County. DeSantis said on Tuesday he wasn’t sure exactly how many people planned to evacuate for Hurricane Milton, but that he thought those who saw Hurricane Helene would be particularly motivated to leave the area.
Tangent
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has said it is grappling with “extremely damaging” false narratives circulating about Hurricane Helene, which hit the U.S. two weeks ago. FEMA chief Deanne Criswell said misinformation about the storm and the federal government’s response is the “worst” she’s ever seen as former President Donald Trump and his allies slam the agency. Trump incorrectly claimed FEMA couldn’t respond appropriately to the storm because it diverted so much money to helping migrants on the order of Vice President Kamala Harris. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the agency is “meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have.” Other rumors include that FEMA has been withholding aid from areas that have historically voted Republican and that the agency is only giving $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery.
Siladitya Ray contributed to this report.
Further Reading
Florida
Rabbi Eli Schlangar among 15 dead in Sydney attack; South Florida increases security at Jewish sites
AVENTURA, Fla. — A devastating terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, has left 15 dead, including Rabbi Eli Schlangar, a beloved figure in the Jewish community.
The attack unfolded during the annual Chanukah by the Sea event, a celebration where Rabbi Schlangar had served as one of the organizers and the emcee.
South Florida Rabbi Tzvi Dechter, who had known Schlangar for decades, spoke tearfully about the profound loss.
The two first met when they were teenagers, and their friendship grew over the years. Dechter recalled the personal qualities of his dear friend, not just his leadership in the Jewish community, but the kind and caring person he was.
“I loved him very much, obviously. A lot of people can describe his community leadership, but you forget about the person himself,” Dechter shared. “He was a husband, a father, and he was a friend to so many. He genuinely cared.”
Schlangar was deeply rooted in the Sydney Jewish community, particularly among the 5,000-member Russian-speaking Jewish population.
His impact reached far beyond his role as a religious leader, and he leaves behind several children, including a two-month-old baby.
Dechter revealed that the two had become “cousins” after marrying cousins, a bond that strengthened their connection.
The tragedy took an even more personal turn for Dechter, as he confirmed that Eli’s wife was among the dozens of people injured in the attack. The death toll is expected to rise, with as many as 40 people still hospitalized in critical condition.
The impact of the attack has rippled across the globe, with authorities increasing security measures in Jewish communities, particularly in South Florida.
Local officials have heightened patrols around synagogues and Jewish schools, with a Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) deputy assigned for security.
Authorities in Sydney continue to investigate the details of the attack, while local communities, both in Australia and abroad, mourn the loss of Schlangar and all the victims.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Florida
Florida high school football team pulls off miraculous touchdown to help win state championship
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A Florida high school state football championship finished with a phenomenal ending for one team and absolute heartbreak for the other on Saturday night.
Lake Mary High School was down six points with seven seconds left in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A title game against Vero Beach. Noah Grubbs dropped back to pass and rolled to his right. He gained momentum and fired the ball, which was tipped and caught short of the goal line.
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A Lake Mary quarterback looks to throw in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, Dec. 13, 2025, at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPALM/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
As Vero Beach defenders tried to keep receiver Barrett Schultz out of the end zone, Schultz’s teammate Tavarius Brundidge Jr. came around and took the ball out of Schultz’s hands. Brundidge ran the ball into the end zone to complete the wild and chaotic play.
The touchdown tied the game, and Lake Mary would kick the extra point to win, 28-27.
INDIANA’S FERNANDO MENDOZA WINS 2025 HEISMAN TROPHY
A Lake Mary player in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, Dec. 13, 2025, makes a catch at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPALM/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“I was just hoping and praying like everyone else that he was going to come down with the football and Barrett did,” Lake Mary head coach Scott Perry said, via TC Palm. “… We were just going to keep fighting and fighting until the final whistle.”
Vero Beach tried to run out the clock the best they could. The team decided to take a safety with 12 seconds left, and gave the ball back to Lake Mary.
A Vero Beach player is stunned after the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, Dec. 13, 2025, at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. (Crystal Vander Weit/TCPALM/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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It was the first state championship for Lake Mary in its history.
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Gisele Bündchen and her boyfriend, Joaquim Valente, soaked up the sun during a jet skiing date in Florida.
The model and the MMA athlete appeared in good spirits while on the water near their home in Surfside on Saturday.
They both stayed close to each other and sported life vests.
Bündchen, 35, appeared to be wearing a white one-piece bathing suit underneath her vest.
She accessorized with sunglasses and styled her hair in a ponytail.
As for Valente, he sported black swim trunks.
The couple, who have been romantically linked since 2023, enjoyed some quality time together after welcoming a son together in February.
While Bündchen and Valente have shied away from revealing too much about their infant, they recently took him out on a boat ride in September.
At the time, the former Victoria’s Secret model was seen cradling her son while her beau took the wheel.
Valente then adorably held onto their 10-month-old, as Bündchen watched in awe.
The health guru also shared a rare glimpse of her son alongside her 16-year-old son, Benjamin, in October.
The teenager adorably held onto his little brother while playing the piano.
Bündchen shares Benjamin and her daughter Vivian, 13, with her ex-husband, Tom Brady.
The exes were wed from 2009 to 2022.
The former NFL star also shares an 18-year-old son, Jack, with his ex Bridget Moynahan.
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