Hurricane Milton left a path of destruction across the state from Tampa Bay area through Central Florida to Cape Canaveral, although not as bad as anticipated. Tornadoes popped up in Southeast Florida and the Everglades.
Hardest hit was the Tampa Bay area, where Milton made landfall on Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday night.
Storm surge was greatest along Southwest Florida’s Gulf coast, though not as bad as Hurricane Helene two weeks ago, according to multiple reports.
More than 1.6 million Floridians were still without power on Saturday morning.
More than 85 Florida state parks remain closed on Saturday morning. Scroll lower in the story for a complete list of closures.
Saturday morning’s headlines:
A sampling of headlines from areas impacted by Hurricane Milton. Most of these newspapers have temporarily lifted pay walls for hurricane-related stories.
- IRS extends Oct. 15 tax extension deadline for 51 Florida counties where state of emergency was declared: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia counties.
- Milton pushes Alafia to highest-recorded flooding in Lithia since 1933, Tampa Bay Times, 10/12/2024
- ‘Closing is not an option.’ Iconic Manatee Mexican restaurant preps return after Milton, Bradenton Herald, 10/12/2024
- Hurricane Milton evacuees return to barrier islands to pick up pieces, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 10/12/2024
- Thousands of Central Floridians expected to get power back this weekend, Orlando Sentinel, 1012/2024
1,634,157 customers without power across Florida as of 6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, For county-by-county breakdown, go to findenergy.com
- EF3 tornado confirmed in St. Lucie County from Hurricane Milton; see its path on the map, TC Palm, Port St. Lucie
- Port Canaveral reopens to cruise, cargo operations after Hurricane Milton, Florida Today, Cocoa Beach/Melbourne, 10/12/2024
Airports
- Sarasota Bradentown Airport. Closed. Sarasota Bradenton International Airport remains closed until a target re-opening date of Oct. 16.
- Tampa International Airport. Open and operational.
- Orlando International Airport. Open and operational.
- Orlando Sanford International Airport. Open. Resumed operations on Friday.
- Daytona Beach International Airport. Open and operational.
- Southwest Florida Airport. Open and operational.
Hurricane Relief
Counties under state of emergency
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 51 Florida counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia counties.
Florida State Parks closures
As of Saturday morning, 85 Florida state parks are closed, including campgrounds. Follow the links for updates about your favorite parks and campgrounds. (Source: Florida State Parks)
- 1. Alafia River State Park (Hillsborough County).
- 2. Anclote Key Preserve State Park (Pinellas, Pasco counties).
- 3. Avalon State Park (St. Lucie County).
- 4. Big Shoals State Park (Hamilton, Columbia counties).
- 5. Blue Spring State Park (Volusia County).
- 6. Bulow Creek State Park (Flagler, Volusia counties).
- 7. Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park (Flagler County).
- 8. Caladesi Island State Park (Pinellas County).
- 9. Cayo Costa State Park (Lee County).
- 10. Cedar Key Museum State Park (Levy County).
- 11. Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve (Levy County).
- 12. Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park (Lee, Charlotte counties).
- 13. Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park (Hillsborough County).
- 14. Collier-Seminole State Park (Collier County).
- 15. Colt Creek State Park (Polk County).
- 16. Crystal River Archaeological State Park (Citrus County).
- 17. Dade Battlefield Historic State Park (Sumter County).
- 18. De Leon Springs State Park (Volusia County).
- 19. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (Collier County).
- 20. Don Pedro Island State Park (Charlotte County).
- 21. Egmont Key State Park (Hillsborough County).
- 22. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (Citrus County).
- 23. Estero Bay Preserve State Park (Lee County).
- 24. Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (Collier County).
- 25. Faver-Dykes State Park (St. Johns County).
- 26. Forest Capital Museum State Park (Taylor County).
- 27. Fort Pierce Inlet State Park (St. Lucie County).
- 28. Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach (Flagler County).
- 29. Gasparilla Island State Park (Lee County).
- 30. General James A. Van Fleet State Trail (Sumter, Lake, Polk counties).
- 31. George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park (Nassau, Duval counties).
- 32. Haw Creek Preserve State Park (Flagler, Volusia, Putnam counties).
- 33. Highlands Hammock State Park (Highlands, Hardee counties).
- 34. Hillsborough River State Park (Hillsborough County).
- 35. Honeymoon Island State Park (Pinellas County).
- 36. Hontoon Island State Park (Volusia, Lake counties).
- 37. Ichetucknee Springs State Park (Columbia, Suwannee counties).
- 38. Ichetucknee Trace (Columbia County).
- 39. Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park (Manatee County).
- 40. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (Okeechobee, Osceola counties).
- 41. Koreshan State Park (Lee County).
- 42. Lafayette Blue Springs State Park (Lafayette County).
- 43. Lake Griffin State Park (Lake County).
- 44. Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park (Highlands County).
- 45. Lake Kissimmee State Park (Polk, Osceola counties).
- 46. Lake Louisa State Park (Lake County).
- 47. Lake Manatee State Park (Manatee County).
- 48. Little Manatee River State Park (Hillsborough County).
- 49. Lovers Key State Park (Lee County).
- 50. Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park (Lake, Seminole counties).
- 51. Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site (Manatee County).
- 52. Madison Blue Spring State Park (Madison County).
- 53. Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area (Citrus, Levy, Marion, Putnam counties) including Rodman Campground (Putnam County), Ross Prairie Trailhead & Campground (Marion County), Santos Trailhead & Campground (Marion County) and Shangri-La Trailhead & Campground (Marion County).
- 54. Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park (Clay County).
- 55. Mound Key Archaeological State Park (Lee County).
- 56. Myakka River State Park (Manatee, Sarasota counties).
- 57. Nature Coast State Trail (Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy counties).
- 58. North Peninsula State Park (Volusia County).
- 59. Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park (Okeechobee County).
- 60. Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park (Baker County).
- 61. Oscar Scherer State Park (Sarasota County).
- 62. Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail (Bradford, Clay, Putnam, Union counties).
- 63. Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail (St. Johns County).
- 64. Paynes Creek Historic State Park (Hardee County).
- 65. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (Alachua County).
- 66. Rainbow Springs State Park (Marion County).
- 67. Ravine Gardens State Park (Putnam County).
- 68. Rock Springs Run State Reserve (Orange, Lake, Seminole counties).
- 69. Skyway Fishing Pier State Park (Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee counties).
- 70. South Fork State Park (Manatee County).
- 71. Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park (Hamilton, Columbia counties).
- 72. Stump Pass Beach State Park (Charlotte County).
- 73. Suwannee River Wilderness Trail (Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee counties) including the following River Camps: Adams Tract River Camp (Lafayette County), Peacock Slough River Camp (Lafayette County) and Woods Ferry River Camp (Suwannee County).
- 74. Terra Ceia Preserve State Park (Manatee County).
- 75. Tomoka State Park (Volusia County).
- 76. Troy Spring State Park (Lafayette County).
- 77. Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park (Levy County).
- 78. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park (Flagler County).
- 79. Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (Hernando County).
- 80. Wekiwa Springs State Park (Seminole, Orange, Lake counties).
- 81. Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park (Pasco County).
- 82. Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park (Suwannee County).
- 83. Wingate Creek State Park (Manatee County).
- 84. Withlacoochee State Trail (Citrus, Hernando, Pasco counties).
- 85. Ybor City Museum State Park (Hillsborough County).
Overnight accommodations closures include:
The following state parks are open for day use, but their campgrounds are closed.
- 1. Anastasia State Park (St. Johns County).
- 2. Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Martin, Palm Beach counties).
- 3. Sebastian Inlet State Park (Brevard, Indian River counties).
- 4. Silver Springs State Park (Marion County).
For updates see Florida State Parks Storm Updates.
State and federal parks, campgrounds
The following links will take to you to updates for public campgrounds and outdoor recreation in state forests, national parks and Florida’s five water management districts.
- Florida State Forests Alerts and Notices
- Florida’s National Forests Alerts and Notices. Apalachia National Forest is open. Ocala National Forest remains closed. Osceola National Forest may reopen today.
- Everglades National Park Alerts and Notices. Park remains open, but some roads/trails may be closed for localized flooding. Visitor centers are reopening later today.
- Big Cypress National Preserve. Campgrounds (except for Monument and Midway) and the ORV office are closed until further notice.
- Canaveral National Seashore
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
- Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. Temporarily closed due to Hurricane Milton.
- Dry Tortugas National Park. Fort Jefferson on Garden Key and Loggerhead Key have reopened.
- Gulf Island National Seashore. Open with pre-hurricane closures.
- South Florida Water Management District: The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will reopen all SFWMD-managed lands for public access at 6:00 a.m. Friday, October 11, 2024.
- Southwest Florida Water Management District. 13 recreation areas are closed.
- St Johns River Water Management District. All district recreation areas are closed until further notice.
- Northwest Florida Water Management District. Open with two exceptions.
- Suwannee River Water Management District
Hurricane Relief
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- Add a second EU2200i for additional power. Two identical models can be paralleled with an optional cable or cord for up to 4400 watts of…
Hurricane season doesn’t end until November 30.
Today’s Tropical Outlook
For more information, visit Hurricanes.gov
- Counties under state of emergency
- Florida State Parks closures
- State and federal parks, campgrounds
- Today's Tropical Outlook
- 2024 Hurricane Names
- Preparation: The next storm
- Preparation: Test your generator
- Stay connected
- Hurricane Shelf Checklist
- Hurricane Supplies Checklist
- Riding out the storm at home
- Picks from my hurricane shelf
2024 Hurricane Names
- Alberto ✓
- Beryl ✓
- Chris ✓
- Debby ✓
- Ernesto ✓
- Francine ✓
- Gordon ✓
- Helene ✓
- Isaac ✓
- Joyce ✓
- Leslie ✓
- Milton ✓
- Nadine
- Oscar
- Patty
- Rafael
- Sara
- Tony Valerie
- William
Preparation: The next storm
Keep your vehicle’s gas tanks reasonable full at all times during hurricane season so you can avoid the inevitable lines at gas stations when a storm approaches.
Maintain your yard and remove dead trees and yard debris from your property. There is no worse feeling than “I should have done it sooner” as a storm approaches.
If your home faces the threat of flooding, buy bags of top soil to be used around ground-level door openings. You can spread them on your lawn after hurricane season is over to enrich the soil for the dry winter months ahead.
Have a plan.
Preparation: Test your generator
Your generator has probably been sitting in your garage since the last time you used it. There are compelling reasons to test it now. If your generator doesn’t start or runs rough, you may still have time to get it to your small-engine shop for maintenance.
A few generator tips:
- Dump the old gas, if you haven’t done so already. Best practice is to empty the tank at the end of hurricane season.
- Use ethanol-free gasoline. Gasoline in your car contains ethanol, but ethanol is not good for your generator’s engine.
- Check the oil, drain and replace. There should be a dip stick.
- Run the generator 5 minutes once a month during hurricane season. Ideally, you should be running it once a month all year, but few do. (I’m guilty, too.)
Caution: Test the generator outdoors. Carbon dioxide emissions can kill you if the fumes are trapped in the house or garage.
Stay connected
Your ability to communicate with others can be severely compromised after a hurricane. Most of us have already dumped our self-powered landline phones in favor of cellular. But cell towers may be knocked out in hurricanes.
You also may lose internet service, especially if it’s provided by above-ground cable, and it’s likely you’ll lose the electricity that powers computers and Wi-Fi routers in your home.
Many newer models of cell phones have access to satellite service in emergencies. Consider that option the next time you upgrade your phone.
Keep your cell phones fully charged at all times, and it’s a really good idea to have a battery pack designed to recharge your phone.
For those so inclined, especially if you live in a remote area, a ham radio is a great way to communicate when all else fails.
Hurricane Shelf Checklist
Every Florida resident should have a hurricane shelf for recurring storm needs:
- Flashlights and battery-powered lanterns
- Fresh batteries of all sizes (Replace at least every two years)
- Weather radio with AM/FM, battery-operated or hand crank. (See recommendations below)
- First aid kit.
- Mosquito repellent.
- Tool kit includes a hatchet or axe, duct tape, hammer, nails, saw, can opener, pocket knife and a multi-tool.
- Blue tarps! Cord, rope for tie downs.
- Fire extinguisher.
- Sterno kit, restock.
- Matches in a waterproof container.
- If you still have a landline, add a corded phone to your kit.
Hurricane Supplies Checklist
Food and water should be replaced annually. Use supplies after hurricane season and replace over the winter. Gasoline should also be fresh. When hurricane season is over, dump gas containers in your car; refill containers next year.
- Water: Bottled drinking water stays fresh for a year, so refresh your supply at the beginning of each season and use it up in the off-season. Save plastic by using pots and pans to store water as a storm approaches.
- Water containers: For storing tap water to bathe and flush toilets. These can be filled at the last minute, but you should already have the containers in-house.
- Gasoline: Keep your car’s tank near full all season. Buy gas containers now and, at the first hint of a hurricane, fill them up. Gas station lines are formidable the closer you get to a storm’s arrival and afterwards. After the storm threat passes, pour stored gas into your car’s gas tank.
- Food: A pantry full of non-perishable foods, canned and packaged, is standard procedure in Florida. Stock up.
- Paper goods: Stock up on TP, paper towels, paper plates this month. There won’t be any left on store shelves if you wait for the threat of a storm.
- Plastic goods: Plastic garbage bags and plastic eating utensils, plastic storage bags and heavy-duty trash bags for yard debris.
- Prescription drugs: Stay at least a month ahead on prescriptions.
- Disinfectant: You may still have COVID supplies of disinfectants and hand sanitizers on hand. If not, replenish your supply.
Florida Emergency Management Checklist
2022-disaster-supply-kit-checklist-final-1Hurricane Evacuation Checklist
Everybody has a different tolerance level and different needs. But whatever your threshold, you should have an evacuation plan before you need it.
- Know the locations of local shelters. A revised list of shelters is issued each year by June 1, the beginning of hurricane season. Many communities have shelters for people with special needs and shelters that allow pets. Go to the appropriate shelter.
- Have a go-bag and sleeping bag ready for each person, just in case. Don’t expect to get a cot, so a sleeping pad is a good idea if you have them.
- If you are leaving town, consider in advance where you will go, how to get there, and what you’ll need. If you have camping gear, have it ready to pack in your escape vehicle.
- Fill vehicle gas tanks before you even need to evacuate, and keep in mind roads will be crowded. Out-of-town hotels may already booked by smart planners.
- Wherever you are going, before you leave your house, unplug appliances and shut off electricity, shut off gas lines and your main water supply.
- If you are worried about flooding and have time, place sandbags and towels around vulnerable doorways and raise furniture and valuables off the floor. Bags of topsoil make excellent sandbags and can be spread on your lawn or garden later.
- Don’t leave home without putting up your shutters.
- Lock the house up when you leave.
Hurricane Shelter Checklist
You may not think you’ll need to go to a shelter, but if you suddenly find “the big one” heading your way, have a go-bag ready for each person in your household.
Shelters don’t have much to offer, and most won’t allow pets, so identify shelters in your area that accept pets if you have them.
Every county in Florida should release a shelter plan on June 1 each year at the beginning of hurricane season. Shelter locations may have changed over the past year.
Your go-bag should contain:
- Clothing for 2-3 days
- Personal hygiene items, toothbrush, toothpaste
- Sleeping bag, air mattress, pillow
- Books and games
- Medications
- Identification (driver’s license)
- Cash
- Snacks
- Flashlight
Riding out the storm at home
- Designate a “safe room” with strong walls and least exposed to outside elements (no windows, for example.)
- Fill the bathtub(s) with water that can be used for flushing toilets.
- Fill pots, pans and other kitchen containers with water for drinking and washing.
- Unplug appliances you don’t need but leave the circuit breaker on until the house loses power. When you lose power, turn off the breaker. Turn it back on when power is restored.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Fill plastic storage bags 3/4 full with water and place in the freezer to fill in spaces. (Water expands while freezing, and you don’t want the bags to pop open.)
- Have a cooler on standby for items you use frequently to avoid opening and closing the fridge.
What not to do…
- Do not use candles or open flames inside your home. Fire-Rescue is way too busy to respond to your fire.
- Do not use generators indoors. Engine exhaust kills.
Camper evacuation tips
- Pack up and get ready to move on a moment’s notice.
- Florida State Parks and other campgrounds within the forecast cone will close as soon as a storm warning is issued, and you will have to evacuate.
- Inland states such as Georgia and Alabama historically have opened campgrounds in state parks, fairgrounds and race tracks for evacuees to camp. Stay well outside the 7-day forecast cone. Here are links to Georgia State Parks. Atlanta Motor Speedway. Alabama State Parks. Mississippi State Parks
- Make sure you have enough gas to get to a place of refuge, even if you don’t expect the storm to come your way. Hurricanes have been known to turn on a dime.
- Don’t panic, but you should try to get an early start so you’re not stuck in traffic fleeing an approaching storm.
If you have an RV in storage…
If you are storing your RV, you should ask about their policy in a storm. Some RV storage facilities will require you to remove it, but if you wait until the last minute, you will never get through on the phone. I know this from experience.
One year, I had to remove my travel trailer from storage, so I brought it home and sheltered it by wedging it between my house and my neighbor’s house. The storm missed us, but we lost power and I was able to live in the RV with generator power.
Another year, I left it in the storage lot. A Cat 2 storm hit my house squarely, knocking out power for two weeks. The travel trailer, 25 miles away, was untouched. I brought it home after the storm passed and lived in it. I was the only one in the neighborhood with hot showers and a working stove (propane).
If you have a boat in storage…
- Ask about your storage lots policies with an approaching storm.
- If allowed, have ground anchors on hand so you can tie it down.
- If your boat damages other boats, you will likely be held responsible — in or out of the water. Check your insurance policy for coverage.
- Some storage lots may require you to remove the boat.
If you have a boat in the water
- If you are in a marina, ask about the marina’s policies in the event of an approaching storm. Many marinas will require you to remove your vessel.
- If your boat is staying in the water, tie it down securely.
- If your boat can be removed from the water, decide how and where you can store it in a storm. Sometimes that means moving the boat inland. Sometimes it means putting it in your garage or sheltering it between houses and using ground anchors.
What about kayaks and paddle boards?
Kayaks, canoes and paddle boards in your yard may become missiles that will hurt people or damage property in a hurricane. Have a plan to tie them down securely or move them into a sheltered space, such as your garage.
Picks from my hurricane shelf
These are my suggestions for stocking your hurricane shelf based on personal experience. Florida Rambler may receive a modest commission if a purchase is made through these links. The income supports the cost of publishing this free web site.
- This popular model can operate a wide variety of appliances, making it perfect for portable use at home, camping, on the job site, or much…
- So quiet, your neighbors will thank you. The EU2200i operates at 48 to 57 dBA, which is less noise than a normal conversation. This makes it…
- Add a second EU2200i for additional power. Two identical models can be paralleled with an optional cable or cord for up to 4400 watts of…
- Flashlights and battery-powered lanterns: Coleman is our choice for affordable and reliable lanterns. An inexpensive choice is the Coleman Classic Hand-held LED Lantern ($25 on Amazon). Buy two or three.
- Fresh batteries of all sizes: We stock up on inexpensive Amazon Basics batteries at our house, allowing us to have ample supply without breaking the bank.
- Weather radio: After testing multiple radios, we settled on a battery-powered Midland ER10VP Weather Radio ($25 on Amazon) for its ease-of-use, small size, great reception and clarity of sound. We found more expensive hand-crank radios had more options but were complicated to use, not a good idea during an emergency. Fresh batteries!
- First aid kit: I have multiple first-aid kits for the car, kayaking, the RV and our home. At the core of is a trio of Johnson & Johnson 160-piece kits ($18 on Amazon)
- Mosquito repellent: A handheld Thermacell MR 300 ($20 on Amazon), and a twin-pack of Deep Woods Off ($13 on Amazon).
- Pocket knife: The one I carry and literally use daily is this Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler Pocket Knife ($35 on Amazon), just 2.3 inches long with a sharp blade, toothpick, tweezers, nail file, bottle opener, 2 mm flathead screwdriver and a magnetic Phillips-head screwdriver.
- Tool kit includes a hatchet or axe, duct tape, hammer, nails, saw, can opener, pocket knife, and I love this basic Leatherman Multi-tool ($50 on Amazon) to handle jobs too tough for my pocket knife
- Sterno: Keep it simple. Sterno folding stove, $13 on Amazon, and a 3-pack of Sterno canned heat, $10 on Amazon.
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Bob Rountree is a beach bum and camper who has explored Florida for decades. Bob and his wife Kathy live in South Florida and roam the Sunshine State in their RV with kayaks and bicycles on board. A retired news editor for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Bob co-founded FloridaRambler.com with fellow journalist Bonnie Gross in 2010.