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On Thursday, officials confirmed that the ferocity of Hurricane Milton has led to the deaths of at least 10 individuals in southern Florida, noting the catastrophic effects of the storm on local populations.
Crystal Coleman sits on a broken step outside the crumbled remains of her once-cozy home in St. Lucie County, Florida, her thoughts clouded with the difficult decision of where she and her young daughter will sleep tonight.
A powerful tornado, one of at least 12 unleashed by Hurricane Milton, ravaged this economically disadvantaged community in southern Florida, killing five residents. Statewide, the hurricane’s destruction has taken the lives of at least 16 people so far.
Though thankful to have survived the disaster, Crystal remains at a loss, unsure of what her future holds or how to move forward.
“All of a sudden the door to my attic flew off, all the objects in my house started flying around,” Ms Coleman told BBC News on Thursday.
“It was devastating, we were very scared. It felt like the tornado was inside of our house.”
Like numerous other neighborhoods across the state, hers was left devastated by the relentless force of Hurricane Milton, which swept through with destructive power, leaving millions without electricity.
As Milton advanced toward the state on Wednesday evening, tornadoes were spawned, a development that meteorologists explain is sometimes linked to powerful tropical weather.
Read also: Florida Reels Under Category 5 Hurricane Milton’s Impact
Parts of Crystal’s roof were torn off, and the windows blown out. Further up the street on Thursday, workers at a non-profit organisation were handing out hundreds of hot meals. The power is out and there’s no running water. People are grateful for a hot meal, a smile, and a helping hand.
Devastation litters the main road. A tractor trailer on its side. The canopy ripped off a petrol station. Trees uprooted. Some residents say they’ve contacted the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) for help, but for now, they’re most worried about shelter and food for their families tonight.
Milton’s devastating path is still being assessed by workers across the state, who caution the death toll is likely to continue rising in the coming days.
Heavy rains from the storm drenched parts of the state with up to 18 inches (45 cm) of water, leading to widespread flooding in neighborhoods and on major roads. Buildings, including homes, businesses, and stadiums, were ravaged by the high winds, though Gov. Ron DeSantis noted that Florida had been spared the worst-case scenario.
He noted that mass evacuations took place, with an estimated 80,000 individuals spending the night in shelters, trying to avoid the worst of the storm’s destructive force.
DeSantis remarked that he felt a considerable number of residents from the evacuation areas had left as advised.
