Restoring power, clearing debris and distributing fuel are now top priorities in Florida as the state wakes up from Hurricane Milton. More than 1.5 million are without power and at least 17 people are confirmed dead as restoration efforts continue into the weekend.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that efforts are still underway to help residents and provide resources to affected areas across the state. Portions of western and central Florida continue to face significant risks of flooding in streams and rivers.
DeSantis said the state is working to meet fuel needs in heavily impacted areas. He said free fuel distribution depots have been opened in Plant City, Bradenton and St. Petersburg, and officials are in the process of opening more in Hillsborough County and Pinellas County.
All major highways and bridges in the Tampa Bay area have reopened. Southwest Florida airports have also resumed normal operations, except for Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, which DeSantis said is expected to reopen Wednesday.
DeSantis said that while the Tampa Bay area was spared the worst-case scenario, with forecasters calling for storm surges of up to 15 feet, high winds caused substantial damage and heavy rains caused severe urban and inland flooding.
“Tampa Bay didn’t get the surge that everyone feared, but what you saw was just a huge amount — on the north side of the storm — a lot of water,” he said. “Obviously there was wind and that created conditions inland where there was a lot of flooding and the water continued to rise even after the storm passed.”
Flooding remains a possibility in some parts of the state as river levels are expected to continue to rise over the coming weeks.
Major hurricanes like Milton can dump large amounts of rain on land, causing rivers, lakes and streams to swell for days and sometimes weeks after the storm makes landfall.
Milton's precipitation totals in the Tampa Bay area were 18.31 inches in St. Petersburg, 14.01 inches in Clearwater Beach, 11.43 inches in Tampa and 10.12 inches in Seminole.
Several waterways reach the Tampa area, including the Anclote River, the Hillsborough River, the Withlacoochee River, Cypress Creek, and the Alafia River. On Saturday, the major flood, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAA has four categories for communicating to the public the risks posed by rising tides in any location. In a “major” flood phase, the agency expects “extensive flooding of structures and roads,” allowing people to evacuate and move properties to higher elevations.
The Alafia River peaked at 24.34 feet on Friday, and although it is slowly receding, NOAA forecasts show it will remain at major or moderate flood stage until early next week.
D Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills On Friday morning it peaked at 17.14 feet, marking the highest flood level on record. Hillsborough County officials issued multiple flood warnings Friday, saying rising water levels in several rivers are “creating dangerous conditions for residents.”
Pasco X County officials said Friday that surrounding areas near the river and lake had experienced “historic flooding” and asked people to leave immediately and seek higher ground.
There is a high water level The growth is expected to continue in the coming daysA high risk of flooding poses in low-lying parts of the county, officials said.
Parts of Central Florida face a high risk of flooding due to high water levels in the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers.
