The death toll from Hurricane Milton has climbed to at least 14 after another fatality was reported in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, according to CNN.
A woman in her late 70s lost her life during post-hurricane restoration efforts when a large tree branch fell on her. The tragic incident occurred shortly after 11:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, as confirmed in a news release from the city.
“Although the storm has passed, its devastation has tragically taken the life of one of our community members,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “Our thoughts are with the family as they grieve their loved one.”
In St. Lucie County, 25 people have been rescued from a mobile home park, where six deaths have been confirmed, according to County Sheriff Keith Pearson. While officials do not have an exact number of people they are searching for, rescue teams continue to sift through the rubble of destroyed homes, though difficult conditions have slowed the process.
President Joe Biden has urged residents to remain cautious. Sharing a message on X, he wrote, “To everyone impacted by Hurricane Milton: I urge you to stay inside and off the roads. Downed power lines, debris, and road washouts are creating dangerous conditions. Help is on the way, but until it arrives, shelter in place until your local officials say it’s safe to go out.”
In a separate post, Biden praised the resilience and unity displayed in the aftermath of the storm. “As difficult as these past days have been, we’ve seen incredible courage from so many Americans coming together—first responders, friends, families, and neighbors looking out for one another. To all the people impacted by Hurricanes Milton and Helene: We’ve got your back.”
By Wednesday morning, more than 23 percent of Florida gas stations were out of fuel, with over 59 percent of stations in the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg area affected, CBS News reported, citing data from GasBuddy. These figures have risen since Tuesday night.
Tornado warnings remain in place for several cities, adding to the existing hurricane and storm surge warnings across many of the same areas.
(ani)