As Florida reels, the focus turns to restoring power, helping victims in the wake of Hurricane Milton.

Restoring power, removing debris and distributing fuel are now Florida’s top priorities as the state continues to reel from Hurricane Milton. More than 1.5 million people are without power and at least 17 people have been confirmed dead as restoration efforts continue over the weekend.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that efforts are continuing to help residents and provide services to hard-hit areas across the state. Parts of western and central Florida continue to face the risk of major flooding from rivers and streams that continue to rise.

DeSantis said the state is working to address fuel demand in the hardest hit 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 others in Hillsborough County and Pinellas County.

All highways and bridges in the Tampa Bay area have reopened. Airports in southwest Florida have also resumed normal operations, except Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, which DeSantis said is expected to reopen Wednesday.

DeSantis said that while the Tampa Bay area did not experience the worst of forecasters’ storm surge of up to 15 feet, strong winds caused significant damage and heavy rain caused extensive urban and inland flooding.

“Tampa Bay didn’t get the surge that everyone feared, but what you ended up seeing was a lot of — on the north side of the storm — a lot of water,” he said. “You had wind, and that created conditions inland where you had a lot of flooding, and the water continued to rise even after the storm left.”

Emergency personnel in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Friday. Tristan Wheelock / Bloomberg – Getty Images

Flooding remains possible in parts of the state as river levels are expected to continue to rise next week.

Major storms like Milton can dump massive amounts of rain on the ground, causing rivers, lakes and streams to overflow for days – and sometimes weeks – after the storms make landfall.

Milton’s rainfall totals in the Tampa Bay area reached 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 in the Tampa area, including the Anclote River, Hillsborough River, Withlacoochee River, Cypress Creek and the Alafia River, were reached. major flood stage Saturday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA has four categories for communicating risk to the public in any area from rising streams. In the “major” flood category, the agency expects “major inundation of buildings and roads,” with the possible need to evacuate people and move goods to higher ground.

The Alafia River crested at 24.34 feet on Friday, and while it has begun to recede slowly, NOAA forecasts show it will remain in major or moderate flood stage early next week.

The Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills rose to 17.14 meters early Friday, marking the highest flood level on record. Hillsborough County officials on Friday issued several flood warnings, saying rising water in several rivers “creates dangerous conditions for residents.”

A person walks along a flooded road from the rising Anclote River in New Port Richey, Fla., on Friday. Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Pasco County officials said Friday X that areas near rivers and lakes are experiencing “historic flooding,” and urged people to move quickly to higher ground.

Water levels are expected to continue to rise in the coming days, posing a greater risk of flooding in low-lying areas of the region, officials said.

Parts of central Florida also face high flood risks due to high water levels in the St. Johns River and Ocklawaha River.