(NewsNation) — Emergency and utility crews are working to clear flooded roadways and restore power to the 1.6 million Florida homes and businesses still in the dark three days post-Milton.
At least 10 storm-related deaths have been reported, according to the White House. NewsNation local affiliate WFLA reported that one of those killed was a Polk County employee who was helping with cleanup.
Six deaths resulted from a tornado hitting the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village near Fort Pierce, while two others in Volusia County were killed by trees crashing into their homes, according to authorities.
The area is still recovering from Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that hit Florida and other parts of the southeast just two weeks before Milton, a Category 3 at landfall.
President Joe Biden spoke with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster Friday night to discuss the recovery efforts from Helene. He also spoke with Mayor Gene Brown of Bradenton, Florida, to discuss the ongoing rescue and response efforts in Florida following Milton, which made landfall near Sarasota in the central-west part of the state Wednesday night.
President Joe Biden is expected to travel to Florida on Sunday to visit impacted areas.
Power outages in Florida
More than 1.6 million customers remained without power in Florida as of Saturday morning, down from an initial 3.3 million in the early morning hours of Thursday after the storm made landfall. The majority of outages are in the central-western part of the state where Milton made landfall.
Vice President Kamala Harris shared on X that 50,000 workers are contributing to the power restoration. Harris also noted FEMA has delivered more than 1.2 million meals, and search-and-rescue teams have assisted in more than 4,200 rescues.
Still, many expressed relief that Milton wasn’t worse. The hurricane spared densely populated Tampa a direct hit, and the lethal storm surge that scientists feared never materialized.
“To the people of Florida: I know recovery and rebuilding periods can be long and difficult. And that long after the press and cameras move on, you have to pick up the pieces. But I want you to know I will do everything in my power to help you put the pieces back together,” President Joe Biden posted to X Friday morning.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged the storm was significant but said it “was not the worst-case scenario.” While flying over some of the hard-hit areas, he said he noticed many recently-built homes fare well.
“We did not get the worst-case scenario, but we did get hit, and we are going to have to work to bounce back,” DeSantis said.
The governor continued to encourage residents to “exercise caution.”
Hurricane Milton’s destruction
Arriving just two weeks after the devastating Hurricane Helene, the system knocked out power to more than 3 million customers initially, flooded barrier islands, tore the roof off the Tampa Bay Rays’ baseball stadium, and toppled a construction crane.
Officials in hard-hit counties have warned people to beware of downed power lines, trees in roads, blocked bridges, and flooding. Before Milton even made landfall, heavy rain, and tornadoes lashed parts of southern Florida.
The National Weather Service reported almost 19 inches of rainfall in the St. Petersburg area. A storm surge of 8 to 10 feet was reported in Sarasota County. Milton rapidly weakened to a Category 1 storm as it moved inland.
In Washington, D.C., Biden called on Congress to move as fast as possible to deliver emergency funding to the Sunshine State.
“I think Speaker (Mike) Johnson is going to get the message that he’s got to step up, particularly for small businesses,” Biden told reporters in the Roosevelt Room Friday.
Officials warn of hurricane relief scams
As relief efforts continue, the U.S. Department of Justice is alerting the public to a rise in scams aimed at exploiting victims of these disasters.
According to the DOJ, scammers are quick to exploit weather disasters and the people affected by them.
Officials also reminded people that if their property was damaged by both Helene and Milton, they would need to apply for disaster assistance twice, with separate applications for the damage from each storm.
On Friday evening, Sarasota County Government shared that FEMA has asked for assistance “correcting a rumor about automatic financial reimbursement for those who have been without power for 24 hours. Any individual seeking disaster assistance from FEMA must complete an application process.”
NewsNation’s Devan Markham contributed to this report.
