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Florida's Manasota Key utterly devastated after Hurricane Milton made landfall nearby

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Florida's Manasota Key utterly devastated after Hurricane Milton made landfall nearby


ENGLEWOOD, Fla. — Sand is piled up to the first floor of most homes on Manasota Key, a sliver of land off Florida’s west coast, where devastation is widespread.

NBC News, escorted by Charlotte County officials, got an exclusive look Sunday at the south end of the key.

The community, about 30 miles south of where Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday, sits across a bay from Englewood, between Fort Myers and Sarasota.

The key is closed to vehicles, but residents are allowed in on foot, some walking for miles with wagons to salvage what they can. Many are finding their homes gutted and full of sand.  

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Scenes of devastation in Manasota Key, Fla., on Sunday after Hurricane Milton made landfall nearby.Natalie Obregon / NBC News

This “old Florida” community consists of many homes right on the water that have been passed down from generation to generation. That’s the case for Kris Hleuka, whose grandfather built her home on Sand Dollar Lane. Now, sand fills the first story. 

“This is my life history,” she said. 

As storm after storm hits the state, Hleuka has watched her home be torn apart. For many in the community, homeowners insurance isn’t an option. 

“After Ian, we completely rebuilt the house. I’m not doing this again,” she said. “We can’t afford insurance down on the beach like this.”

Residents on the key are in “shock and mourning” that their little piece of paradise is gone, said Brenda Kreuger, a friend of Hleuka’s who lives in Englewood.

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Jay and Pam Hager have owned a timeshare at the Sea Oats Beach Club for decades. The property, once an oasis on a quiet strip of the Gulf, is now buried under 4 feet of sand.  

The rooms at the Sea Oats Beach Club in Manasota Key are filled with upward of 3 feet of sand.
The rooms at the Sea Oats Beach Club in Manasota Key are filled with upward of 3 feet of sand.Natalie Obregon / NBC News

“It seems like we’re in a movie,” Jay Hager said. “It just doesn’t seem real. I’ve been coming here for 40 years and never seen anything close to this.”

Officials are working to remove the piles of sand that have buried the roads so they can reopen Manasota Key.

“Houses were decimated. They’re gone into the Gulf, and we didn’t have that with Helene,” said Ben Bailey, community development director for Charlotte County. 

“I have never seen anything like this. Most people living here that are alive have never seen anything like this, either,” Bailey said.

John Elias, public works director for Charlotte County, said the storm “certainly, literally, has changed the geography” of the key.

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More than 750,000 Floridians are still without power five days after Milton made landfall, according to PowerOutage.us.

At least 24 people have died as a result of the storm, according to an NBC News count of confirmed deaths.

President Joe Biden toured the damage in St. Petersburg on Sunday and promised $600 million for restoration after hurricanes Milton and Helene, with nearly $100 million of that going toward improvements to Florida’s power system.

The devastation in Manasota Key, Fla.
The devastation in Manasota Key, Fla.Natalie Obregon / NBC News





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Florida

Florida man charged in racially motivated attack plot

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Florida man charged in racially motivated attack plot


Federal agents arrested a 20-year-old Sarasota man after finding Nazi propaganda, pipe bombs, guns, ammunition, a pressure cooker, and instructions for making explosives inside his home. Investigators also discovered an index card outlining plans for a racially motivated attack, including placing motion-activated bombs for police. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.



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FTBOA Partners With Florida Coast Equipment

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FTBOA Partners With Florida Coast Equipment


Florida Coast Equipment has entered into a partnership agreement with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association making Kubota the exclusive tractor, mower, utility vehicle, and construction equipment sponsor of the Florida Thoroughbred industry, starting in 2026.

The long-term agreement, announced Dec. 23, places Florida Coast Equipment and the Kubota brand front and center to Florida’s Thoroughbred industry, a $3.2 billion industry with more than 90,000 Thoroughbreds and 33,500 jobs.

The Florida Coast Equipment name will now be prominently displayed throughout the FTBOA headquarters, events, and communications, including an advertising package on FTBOA.com, Wire to Wire, and the Florida Horse Farm and Services Directory.

“This partnership goes beyond sponsorship. Florida Coast Equipment is proud to serve as the local dealer of choice for Florida’s Thoroughbred community—working alongside breeders and owners every day with the equipment, service, and support they rely on,” said Florida Coast Equipment online sales manger Timothy Morris Jr. “Both the FTBOA and Florida Coast Equipment are deeply rooted in Florida agriculture and share a commitment to long-term relationships, stewardship, and doing things the right way. That shared mindset is what makes this partnership a natural fit and positions it for lasting impact across the industry.”

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“When it comes to horsepower, nobody knows it better than Florida’s Thoroughbred industry, and the team at Florida Coast Equipment and Kubota,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said. “This partnership unites two pillars of Florida agriculture, and we couldn’t ask for a better fit.”

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This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.





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Preview: December 23 vs. Florida | Carolina Hurricanes

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Preview: December 23 vs. Florida | Carolina Hurricanes


RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers square off for the second time in five days on Tuesday, going head-to-head at Lenovo Center.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 23

Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. ET

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Watch: FanDuel Sports Network South, FanDuel Sports Network App | Learn More

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Canes Record: 22-10-3 (47 Points, 1st – Metropolitan Division)

Canes Last Game: 6-4 Loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, Dec. 20

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Panthers Record: 19-14-2 (40 Points, T-5th – Atlantic Division)

Panthers Last Game: 6-2 Loss to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Dec. 20



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