Hurricanes Milton and Helene: Flooding, Power Outages, Tornadoes, and Rumors
As hurricane season continues in the South, residents are grappling with back-to-back storms, tornadoes, power outages, flooding, and disinformation and misinformation efforts that may keep victims from receiving federal aid.
Hurricane Milton
The storm weakened as it moved across Florida, downgraded to a Category 1. However, the storm still brought serious threats to residents throughout the peninsula as millions lost power.
Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm. As the storm hit Tampa, wind gusts of 100 mph (160 km/hr) were recorded and the hurricane shredded the domed roof of Tropicana Field, a Major League Baseball stadium that was going to serve as a makeshift shelter for thousands of first responders and cleanup crews.
Several areas were under mandatory evacuation orders prior to Milton’s arrival, while other counties ordered residents to shelter in place once the storm arrived.
The storm is now closing in on Florida’s Atlantic coast, but the rain, wind, and storm surge continue to impact parts of the state and neighboring Georgia.
Governor Ron DeSantis noted that while the storm was significant, it was not the worst-case scenario. Nevertheless, DeSantis cautioned residents about the dangers of post-storm environments, advising people to not remove tree debris, to avoid downed power lines, and to not walk through storm waters.
Tornadoes. Milton generated several tornadoes in Florida. Four people were confirmed dead after at least nine tornadoes tore through St. Lucie County on 9 October.
Flooding. The storm dumped more than 18 inches of rain on St. Petersburg. The rainfall was a 1-in-1,000-year event for the area.
Flooding further inland was also reported, with Sarasota County seeing up to 10 feet of storm surge, according to CNN. While storm surge warnings have been lifted for the state’s Gulf Coast, the Atlantic coast was still contending with potential storm surge, and damaging winds of 85 mph (136 km/hr).
Power outages and damage. More than 3.3 million Floridians are without power as of Thursday morning, according to PowerOutage, which tracks utility reports.
City officials issued a boil water notice for St. Petersburg residents after the storm caused major water main breaks, disrupting residents’ access to drinkable water.
Hurricane Helene
Milton arrived two weeks after western Florida and much of the South was hit by Hurricane Helene. The death toll of Helene was 230 and many areas were still attempting to recover when Milton arrived.
Helene forced a temporary closure of a Baxton International site in Marion, North Carolina, which is a major distributor of IV fluids. Though operations have resumed, the closure caused a supply chain issue for U.S. hospitals, which had to ration IV fluids and, in some instances, postpone surgeries. The company continues to have restrictions on the amount of supplies customers can order according to CNN.
Also, federal recovery efforts have been strained because false claims and conspiracy theories surrounding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have circulated caused fear and confusion.
FEMA published a statement against the rumor that it will only provide $750 to disaster survivors to help them recover. That amount, according to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, is an initial payment to help with expenses for food or medicine. Additional funding will be available to survivors who need reimbursement for home repairs, loss of personal items, and lodging after Helene.
Criswell said that the misinformation and disinformation—which has been spread by leaders and political figures among others—about the federal response to Hurricane Helene are “demoralizing” to aid workers and stoke the fears of storm survivors and victims who need the help the most. These rumors could discourage survivors from even applying to receive crucial funding and support. The agency has dedicated part of its website to address other rumors and misinformation around hurricane response efforts.
Other false rumors and information included that FEMA is spending its funds elsewhere to help illegal immigrants, that government officials intend to bulldoze over damaged communities and steal the land from residents, and that the federal government used weather control technology to direct Helene into predominantly Republican areas in an effort to sway the outcome of the presidential election.
Hurricane Categories
Hurricanes are rated along the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which estimates the potential for property damage, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.
Category 1. Winds 74-95 mph (119-153 km/hr). Very dangerous winds that could result in some damage, including to roofs, vinyl sidings, and gutters, as well as uprooted or damaged trees. Also, extensive damage to power lines and poles can result in power outages that may last for days.
Category 2. Winds 96-110 mph (154-177 km/hr). These extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage even to well-constructed frame homes, which could sustain major roof and siding damage. Shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted, likely blocking numerous roads. Near-total power loss should be expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.
Category 3. Winds 111-129 mph (178-208 km/hr). Hurricanes reaching this level or higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential to result in a significant loss of life and damage. Expect that electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.
Category 4. Winds 130-156 mph (209-251 km/hr). At this point, catastrophic damage will occur, with homes expected to sustain severe damage, including the loss of most of the roof structure or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped in half or altogether uprooted while power poles will be downed—this is likely to isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks, or possibly even months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks to months.
Category 5. Winds 157 mph or higher (252 km/hr or higher). The damage will still be catastrophic, with a high percentage of homes destroyed, likely due to total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas, with power outages expected to last for weeks to possibly months. Like a Category 4, most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.