Hurricane Milton makes landfall, slamming into Florida with destructive winds, catastrophic storm surge

SUMMARY

Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's west coast as a powerful Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction. The storm is unleashing a catastrophic storm surge, with the National Hurricane Center warning of water levels between 10 to 15 feet along the central western coast, exacerbated by large waves driven by hurricane-force winds. Tornadoes have already been reported, including one that ripped the awning off a 7-Eleven in Cape Coral. Authorities expect wind gusts to exceed 100 mph over the next 36 hours as the storm moves eastward across Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis activated thousands of National Guard members to assist in search and rescue efforts. Meanwhile, President Biden declared Florida a disaster area ahead of Milton’s landfall, enabling FEMA to pre-deploy resources and personnel. Public Safety officials warned residents to shelter in place, as dangerous conditions prevent emergency responders from accessing affected areas.