Water begins to recede from flooded streets in Tampa, Florida on October 10, 2024 as a result of Hurricane Milton.
Bryan R. Smith | AFP | Getty Images
Energy recovery, waste cleanup and fuel distribution are now top priorities in Florida as the state continues to reel. Hurricane Milton. More than 1.5 million are without power and at least 17 confirmed dead over the weekend as recovery efforts continue.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Saturday that efforts are still underway to help residents and provide resources to affected areas across the state. Parts of west and central Florida remain at risk of major stream flooding and rivers continue to rise.
DeSantis said the state is working to address the need for fuel in hard-hit areas. He said free fuel distribution depots have opened in Plant City, Bradenton and St. Petersburg, and officials are in the process of opening more in Hillsborough County and Pinellas County.
All major highways and bridges in the Tampa Bay area have reopened. Airports in Southwest Florida have also returned to normal operations, with the exception of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, which DeSantis said will reopen Wednesday.
DeSantis said that while the Tampa Bay area was spared the worst-case scenario of the 15-foot storm surge forecast, strong winds caused extensive damage and heavy rain caused extensive urban and inland flooding.
“Tampa Bay didn’t get the surge that everyone was afraid of, but what you ended up seeing is massive — north of the storm — massive amounts of water,” he said. “You had the wind, of course, and so that created conditions inland where you had a lot of flooding, and the water continued to rise even after the storm went away.”
Emergency responders in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Friday. Tristan Wheelock / Bloomberg – Getty Images
Flooding remains a possibility in parts of the state as river levels are expected to continue to rise next week.
Major hurricanes like Milton can dump massive amounts of rain on land, causing rivers, lakes and streams to swell for days – and sometimes weeks – after the storm makes landfall.
Milton rainfall in the Tampa Bay area was 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, the Hillsborough River, the Withlacoochee River, Cypress Creek, and the Alafia River, were accessible. major flood stage on Saturday, According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NOAA has four categories for notifying the public of danger in any area of upwelling currents. During a “major” flood stage, the agency expects “significant flooding of structures and roads,” requiring people to evacuate and move property to higher elevations.
The Alafia River peaked at 24.34 meters on Friday, and although it is slowly receding, NOAA forecasts show it will be in high to moderate flood early next week.
The Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills It peaked at 17.14 feet early Friday, marking the highest flood level on record. Hillsborough County officials issued multiple flood warnings Friday, saying rising water levels in several rivers “are creating hazardous conditions for residents.”
A person walks through a flooded street as the Anclote River rises in New Port Richey, Florida, Friday. Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Pasco County officials said on Friday X that districts near rivers and lakes were experiencing “historic flooding” and urged them to leave immediately and seek higher ground.
They are water levels it is expected to continue to rise in the coming dayscreating a high risk of flooding in low-lying areas of the region, officials said.
Parts of central Florida are also at high risk of flooding, including St. Due to high water levels in the Johns River and the Ocklawaha River.
