Hours after Hurricane Milton slammed Florida’s Gulf Coast, residents and leaders in the region have hit the streets to survey the damage and clean debris.
Here’s what the aftermath looked like in parts of the hardest-hit areas of Florida’s Gulf Coast:
In an attempt to access a broken water line, Mike Giard, 16, removes boards from a wood deck that washed up onto his front yard during Hurricane Milton at New Point Comfort in Englewood, Florida on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Locales Brian Rhodes and Trish Cloutier surveying damage and debris in front of homes in Charlotte County near Manasota Key on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the area.
Residents of Luxor Mobile Home Park in Bradenton, Florida, survey the damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024.
The Cortez Bridge to Anna Maria Island is only open for emergency responders after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024.
Karre Willis, right, and her husband walk through their neighborhood surveying damage and debris in front of their neighbors’ homes in Charlotte County near Manasota Key on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the area.
Steve Macfarlane and his kids were surprised their tree fort survived after the tree toppled on their property in West Bradenton on Oct. 10, 2024.
Damage and debris in front of homes in Charlotte County near Manasota Key on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the area and two weeks after Hurricane Helene struck the area.
Cindy Herman reacts as she inspects the damage of her home caused by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene two weeks before at Venice Bay Adult Park in Venice, Florida on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
READ MORE: See what Hurricane Milton did to Florida. Video of the arriving storm and the damage
The 7-11 at 902 14th St. West in Bradenton, Fl., lost the roof over the gas pumps after Hurricane Milton. Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
Mayra Revera, 43, left, and son, Johnmar Mulero, 16, load a wheelbarrow with sandbags as Hollywood residents join South Floridians in preparation for possible flooding due to Hurricane Milton in Broward and Miami-Dade counties at Jefferson Park in Hollywood, Florida, on Oct. 8, 2024.
Emanuel Atencio tries to position sandbags on his shoulder as Hollywood residents join South Floridians in preparation for possible flooding due to Hurricane Milton in Broward and Miami-Dade counties at Jefferson Park in Hollywood, Florida, on October 8, 2024.
Karre Willis, right, and her husband walk through their neighborhood surveying damage and debris in front of their neighbors’ homes in Charlotte County near Manasota Key on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the area.
Debris scattered in a Charlotte County neighborhood caused by Hurricane Milton in Sarasota, Florida on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Debris remains scattered after Hurricane Milton at the Luxor Mobile Home Park on 14th Street in Bradenton on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Cortez Village had widespread debris and damage after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024.
Debris scattered in a Charlotte County neighborhood caused by Hurricane Milton in Sarasota, Florida on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
The Iron Block Building on Old Main across from the historic courthouse in Bradenton is pictured damaged after Hurricane Milton on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Manatee Fruit’s greenhouses suffered from the storm after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024.
Yurii Chmyrid,11, inspects the propeller of an upside down plane damaged by Hurricane Milton at the Venice Municipal Airport on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.
Sunny Shores Mobile Home Park suffered more damage after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024.
Film canisters are among the debris scattered in a Charlotte County neighborhood caused by Hurricane Milton in Sarasota, Florida on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Karre Willis, right, and her husband walk through their neighborhood surveying damage and debris in front of their neighbors’ homes in Charlotte County near Manasota Key on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the area.
Waterway Condominiums lost sections of their roof after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024.
#LBK! Our TFIT team has accessed the island via the Longboat Pass Bridge (N End of LBK) and the initial assessment along Gulf of Mexico Drive shows it is all clear. FDOT must still assess the bridges for potential damage before access is restored. pic.twitter.com/k8wcUSeNzB
** PLEASE ** STAY OFF THE ROADS. Power lines and trees are down, and many traffic signals aren’t working. First-In Teams are assessing damage and clearing roads – but traffic is slowing their progress. pic.twitter.com/DfRpi2PSja
NEW: We’re outside of our office building right now in downtown St. Petersburg, where dozens have gathered to take pictures of the crane that fell last night.
Please stay off the roads so rescue and restoration crews can survey damage. Early this morning, BPD’s Crime Reduction Team helped clear trees to rescue crews could being the work of locating residents who chose not to evacuate. Road closures: https://t.co/jOLVHjKVrp pic.twitter.com/sbqp0KdAAV
Krista Wilson is a news writer for Axe News Room. She has been with the company since 2017. Her favorite topics to write about include local politics and entertainment, but she also enjoys writing about national politics when she can find time between her other assignments.
