More than 2.6 million households across the state are still without power as of Thursday afternoon – Water problems too
With Hurricane Milton now gone, Florida is taking stock of its wounds. At least 15 people have died, although there are fears that this number will rise. Nearly 1,000 people have been rescued so far, according to Florida Governor DeRon de Sandys, with thousands of personnel deployed across the state to provide assistance.
The storm made landfall Wednesday night near Siesta Key, Fla., as a dangerous Category 3 hurricane before breaking into the state as a storm category 1 — destroying homes, roads, power lines, trees and buildings.
The storm represents a rainfall event over 1 in 1000 years in some areas, such as St. Petersburg.
More than 2.6 million households across the state they still are without electricity as of Thursday afternoon — up from 3.2 million in the early afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us .
Problems also occur in water supply. Township crews are working to repair 30 water line breaks caused by fallen trees. Drinking water has been restored, but the city remains on guard. Residents should boil the water before drinking it — for at least one minute, according to the CDC — but it remains safe for hand washing and showering.
In Orange Countyauthorities urged residents to refrain from swimming in lakes and rivers due to high water levels, the potential for contamination, displaced wildlife and submerged structures. In fact, in some areas the alligators came out into the streets, making the situation even more dangerous.
The Coast Guard announced the reopening many ports across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina after the hurricane, saying authorities had assessed each location for safety. Among them are Port Tampa Bay and SeaPort Manatee but with restrictions on ship movements.
“The door flew away”
After Milton’s passing Crystal Coleman observes the remains of her home in St Lucie County, Florida and wonders where she and her daughter will spend the night.
One of at least a dozen tornadoes tore through the low-income community in south Florida, killing at least five residents.
“It was devastating, we were very scared. I felt that the tornado was inside our house,” she says to the BBC.
Parts of the roof of her house were destroyed, windows were blown out. On the street, workers from a non-profit organization were handing out hundreds of hot meals. The neighborhood had no electricity or running water.
Source :Skai
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