Milton Spreads Damage Across Florida

Cars were seen trying to outrun tornadoes as the twisters were some of the first things to make landfall as part of Hurricane Milton. More than 100 warnings were issued Wednesday in the state. 

Even though Milton landed on Florida’s central west coast south of Tampa near Siesta Key, the category 3 storm brought winds, rain and a storm surge of water that was several feet deep. Here in Clearwater, residents were rescued by boat from their apartment buildings. 

Farther south in Bradenton Beach, homes were knocked off foundations, but were spared complete wipeouts. Streets were clogged with some debris but nothing close to the major damage that was originally forecast. 

The area directly hit was just south of major fertilizer facilities - specifically phosphorus. Officials with the commodity trading firm Stone X say 62 percent of the U.S. production capacity is in the Sunshine State and was spared major damage.

Most of the fabric roof on the home of baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays was shredded in the storm. The stadium was to serve as a shelter for first responders and utility workers in the region. 

Outside of the southeast, much of the country has been dry as extensive drought returned across the country.

Since the first week of June, the Drought Monitor has tripled to its current reading of 75.32 - nearly five of those points have come in the last week as rain has disappeared from the majority of the country.

Other locations around the world have been dry as well. Parts of Italy, Uruguay and Brazil have been locked in drought for an extended period.

For Market to Market, I’m Peter Tubbs.

contact: miller@iowapbs.org