Tampa Bay Dodges Disaster as Hurricane Milton Wreaks Havoc

Hurricane Milton devastated parts of Florida with tornadoes and power outages but spared Tampa Bay from catastrophic flooding. The storm weakened after landfall, causing widespread damage and prompting evacuations. Efforts continue for recovery, with ongoing support for areas previously hit by Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Milton ravaged Florida with destructive tornadoes and widespread power outages, but fortunately, the Tampa Bay region was spared a feared cataclysmic flood. Officials are monitoring river levels, which appear to be no worse than recent Hurricane Helene's impacts, according to Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

The storm, a Category 3 hurricane at its Florida coast landfall, packed winds of 120 mph. Despite its ferocity, it had weakened compared to the Category 5 threat it posed over the Gulf of Mexico. The storm weakened to a Category 1 as it moved across land.

Florida's residents encountered severe damage, such as a toppled crane in St. Petersburg and destroyed homes across counties, while major efforts for recovery and assistance from agencies and National Guard teams continue in hard-hit regions.

(With inputs from agencies.)