Hurricane Milton Creates Widespread Damage But State Spared “Worst-Case Scenario,” Governor Ron DeSantis Says

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that initial assessments showed that the state was spared the “worst case scenario” from Hurricane Milton, even though there was substantial damage.

“The storm was significant, but thankfully this was not the worst case scenario,” DeSantis said at a briefing this morning, adding that the hurricane weakened before landfall.

“Definitely the surge did not reach Helene levels,” the governor said.

He said that Sarasota County had the most significant storm surge, between eight to 10 feet, compared to Helene, which had 15-20 feet in some areas.

At least four people were killed, the AP reported, while media outlets reported that more than 3 million were without power.

The center of Milton was pulling away from the state this morning, but there were still strong gusty winds and heavy rainfall in the area around Cape Canaveral, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Throughout the night, network correspondents were fanned out in the center of the massive storm, which approached the state as a category five hurricane.

One of the most dramatic images of damage was captured by drone of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, with the roof ripped off the stadium.

Reporters at the Tampa Bay Times were outside their offices, capturing a crane that smashed into the side of the building and left it with a large gash.

NBC News‘ Tom Llamas, in Sarasota, ran for cover after the backside of the hurricane suddenly hit, after a period of calm in the eye of the storm.