Photos show aftermath after Hurricane Milton tears path of damage through Florida

Hurricane Milton rampaged Wednesday night through Florida, flooding streets, downing trees and destroying homes and buildings.

John Nick John Nick
Oct 11, 2024 - 00:48
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Photos show aftermath after Hurricane Milton tears path of damage through Florida

Flooded streets. Downed trees. Destroyed homes and buildings.

That's the aftermath left by the exiting Hurricane Milton, which tore a path of destruction Wednesday night through a large swath of Florida after making its doomed landfall. On Thursday morning, first-responders and residents unable or unwilling to flee were only beginning to understand the extent of the havoc the powerful storm wreaked when it hit the state at Category 3 strength.

As of Thursday morning, millions were left without power and at least two were dead. Photographs show the devastation in bleak terms, highlighting not just the damage itself, but the people now forced to pick up the pieces of their battered communities while still reeling from Hurricane Helene not two weeks prior.

Here's a look:

Live updates on Milton:Hurricane Milton leaves destruction across storm-weary Florida

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 10: A crane sits on the street after crashing down into the building housing the Tampa Bay Times offices after the arrival of Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida.View of the damaged roof of Tropicana Field stadium, the home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays, after Hurricane Milton made landfall, in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. October 10, 2024.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 10: A crane sits on the street after crashing down into the building housing the Tampa Bay Times offices after the arrival of Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 10: The roof at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, sustained major damage because of high winds associated with Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Florida.\

A Fort Myers resident looks over his home that was damaged Wednesday in a possible tornado associated with Hurricane Milton.

FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Surge waters flood the street after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida.

Downtown Fort Myers, Florida, started to flood as Hurricane Milton hit Wednesday. In the aftermath of the storm, which was exiting the state near Cape Canaveral at Category 1 strength, neighborhoods were flooded, homes destroyed and the roof of Tropicana Field torn off.

Residents are rescued from an their second story apartment complex in Clearwater that was flooded from and overflowing creek due to Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in Florida.

PUNTA GORDA - OCTOBER 10: In this aerial view, a boat is washed ashore from when Hurricane Milton passed through the area on October 10, 2024, in Punta Gorda, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida.

A drone view shows buildings and structures damaged by Hurricane Milton after it made landfall, in Venice, Florida, U.S., October 10, 2024.

Damage caused by a possible tornado from the outer bands of Hurricane Milton is seen Wednesday in Cocoa Beach, Florida. More than 3.2 million homes and businesses were dark by early Thursday.
A man runs for cover Wednesday as a rain band from Hurricane Milton made its way through West Palm Beach. The eye of the storm made landfall in Siesta Key, a barrier island off Sarasota about 50 miles south of the Tampa.
A 12-year-old girl comforts her dog after a suspected tornado went through her family's property in Port Salerno. Milton's powerful assault comes two weeks after Hurricane Helene slammed into the Florida coast on its way to devastating communities across seven states.
Suspected tornado damage is seen in Port Salerno. Milton, which slammed into Florida's already storm-blasted west coast Wednesday night, spawned at least 19 tornadoes and caused damage in numerous counties, destroying around 125 homes, most of them mobile homes, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office was damaged in Fort Pierce as Hurricane Milton crossed into Florida. At least two deaths were reported at a retirement community following a suspected tornado in Fort Pierce on the state's east coast, NBC News reported, citing St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson.
A boat is overturned in Port Salerno after a suspected tornado roared through the area amid Hurricane Milton's landfall in Florida. The high speed winds blowing off Hurricane Milton and whipping into tornadoes were keeping first responders along Florida’s Gulf Coast off the roads and unable to attempt any rescues when the storm hit.
First-responders carry away a person around 5:30 a.m. Thursday in South Daytona as Hurricane Milton moves through the county. The storm was keeping first responders along Florida’s Gulf Coast off the roads and unable to attempt any rescues when it first hit. Florida authorities had been warning that although people can call 911 for help over the phone, they would effectively be on their own until Milton passed over.
Suspected tornado damage is seen in Port Salerno. Milton, which slammed into Florida's already storm-blasted west coast Wednesday night, spawned at least 19 tornadoes and caused damage in numerous counties, destroying around 125 homes, most of them mobile homes, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office was damaged in Fort Pierce as Hurricane Milton crossed into Florida. At least two deaths were reported at a retirement community following a suspected tornado in Fort Pierce on the state's east coast, NBC News reported, citing St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson.
A boat is overturned in Port Salerno after a suspected tornado roared through the area amid Hurricane Milton's landfall in Florida. The high speed winds blowing off Hurricane Milton and whipping into tornadoes were keeping first responders along Florida’s Gulf Coast off the roads and unable to attempt any rescues when the storm hit.
First-responders carry away a person around 5:30 a.m. Thursday in South Daytona as Hurricane Milton moves through the county. The storm was keeping first responders along Florida’s Gulf Coast off the roads and unable to attempt any rescues when it first hit. Florida authorities had been warning that although people can call 911 for help over the phone, they would effectively be on their own until Milton passed over.