Recently a catastrophe hit Florida and the region. Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 5 storm, recently tore through Florida, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. While the Sunshine State bore the brunt of the storm, its impacts were felt across the wider region. Hurricane Milton did reach Category 5 status with winds of 285 km/h (180 mph) while it was out in the open ocean. It was indeed one of the strongest storms of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. However, it weakened to a Category 3 before making landfall in Florida.
There was a tropical disturbance in the West Caribbean. Due to that, Milton formed in the Bay of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico on October 5th. Milton slammed into Florida’s west coast near Siesta Key, unleashing a devastating combination of high winds, torrential rain, and a dangerous storm surge. Coastal communities faced severe flooding, while a deadly tornado outbreak wreaked havoc inland. Millions were left without power, and tragically, the storm has claimed at least 17. Wikipedia writes ,,As of October 12, 2024, Hurricane Milton had killed at least 26 people: 23 in the United States and three in Mexico.”
While Florida suffered the most, Milton’s reach extended beyond the US borders. Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula experienced heavy rainfall and gusty winds, leading to localized flooding and sadly, 3 fatalities. Cuba and the Bahamas also felt the storm’s outer bands, with increased rainfall and rough seas.
The road to recovery will be long, with damage estimates already in the billions (its estimated to be at least 30 billions$ so far, some sources says even 50). Communities are facing power outages, flooding, and the daunting task of debris cleanup.
I contacted Alfredo, founder of ,,Private Islands for Sale” group, our allied, about this matter as he lives in Miami. I talked to him in 10. October, and he told me that it made landfall in Tampa Bay which is north west of them and came across mid Florida. And that there were lots of rain and wind but thankfully no damage.
