Hurricane Milton developed as a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph Wednesday near Siesta Key, Florida, and slammed into the state’s west coast before turning eastward.
While appearing on Fox Weather, the Sheriff of St. Lucie County Keith Pearson confirmed there were 17 tornadoes and multiple deaths.
“We can confirm that 17 hurricanes hit St. Lucie County, Florida, many people died, the rescue operation is still ongoing, and hundreds of homes were destroyed,” he said.
The massacre occurred two weeks after Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida before wreaking havoc in North Carolina. Florida residents spent some time rolling up their windows and getting out of their homes in preparation for Milton.
“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida,” the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday.
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Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene damage (National Weather Service)
The storm is expected to move from central Florida into the Atlantic by Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
As of 11 p.m., power was out for 1.8 million customers, with nearly 300,000 customers losing power in one hour.
Milton poses a historically significant storm threat, with sustained winds in excess of 100 mph over the next 36 hours. Storm surge forecasts for the central west coast predict 10 to 15 feet of water with destructive waves driven by strong winds, according to FOX Weather.
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“Yes, you may have ‘been in hurricanes before,'” said FOX Weather Hurricane expert Bryan Norcross. “But you didn’t surpass the hurricane of 1921 that put water over Pinellas County, or the hurricane of 1848 that put 15 feet of Gulf water where the city of Tampa is today.”
A Lee County Sheriff’s officer patrols the streets of Cape Coral, Fla., as heavy rain falls ahead of Hurricane Milton, Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis activated thousands of National Guard members standing by to conduct search and rescue efforts following the storm. President Biden’s administration has also invested resources and hundreds of employees.
Biden declared Florida a disaster zone prior to Milton’s arrival to facilitate FEMA’s preparation and response.
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Broken utility poles blown down by strong winds are seen as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday. (Reuters/Ricardo Arduengo)
National Hurricane Center in Miami warned Wednesday evening that the northern eyewall of Hurricane Milton had begun to spread along Florida’s Gulf Coast, and told residents to “shelter in place as these extremely dangerous winds move across the region.”
Public Safety Information Manager of the Florida Incident Support Team, James Lucas warned that weather conditions will prevent rescuers from saving lives as Hurricane Milton moves through the state.
Hurricane Milton tore through a 7-Eleven convenience store in Cape Coral, Fla., on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
“The weather will deteriorate so quickly that rescue workers won’t be able to get in,” Lucas told Fox News Digital’s Gabriele Regalbuto. “That means law enforcement won’t be able to respond to any emergencies … as the storm winds past 100 mph.”
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Lucas said the health and safety of first responders and citizens is paramount.
“We will not be able to enter those affected areas during the storm,” said Lucas. “That’s why the Mayor of Tampa, the Governor of Florida is asking people in those areas to get out.”
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