THE LATEST
1:32 p.m.:
North Port officials state its Tactical First-In Teams "completed an initial assessment and cleared major roads and emergency routes in North Port," according to a news release.
"Many traffic lights are not operational, and there may be downed power lines, debris and standing water on some roadways," it stated. "Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling and stay off the roads if possible. If traffic signals are not working, treat the intersection like a four-way stop."
The news release stated that the city's staff is still assessing its "critical" facilities and infrastructure.
"Department of Public Works crews are clearing trees and debris from roadways and water control structures, repairing potholes and replacing street signs. Utilities is working to address power outages at lift stations," it stated.
North Port water and wastewater services did not experience any interruptions, it noted.
12:46 p.m.:
County: South Gulf Cove Lock inoperable
Officials in Charlotte County announced the South Gulf Cove lock is currently inoperable and will remain so "until further notice" due to a power outage.
11:57 a.m.
Officials have closed Beach Road, according to a news release.
"Beach Road in Englewood is closed at State Road 776 and N. Beach Road is closed at the Charlotte-Sarasota county line due to impacts from Hurricane Milton," it stated. "Charlotte County urges motorists not to drive on North Beach Road and Gulf Boulevard on Manasota Key."
11:27 a.m.:
Charlotte County residents who use oxygen tanks should to contact their vendors about refills "before their supply runs low," the county stated in a news release.
"It is important to monitor oxygen levels regularly and use the contact information on the tanks or equipment to promptly reach out to the vendor," it stated. "Calling ahead is important to ensure vendors have enough time to arrange timely delivery or refill services." Charlotte County vendors included:
Port Charlotte Oxygen, 941-249-4577
Alliance Oxygen and Medical Equipment, 941-423-4664
Lincare Inc., 941-625-0202
11:12 a.m.
Charlotte County officials noted a place for residents to find out about open pharmacies.
"RxOpen is currently activated for Florida in response to Hurricane Milton," it stated in a news release.
It is online at www.healthcareready.org/rxopen where people can receive information.
"RxOpen is a mapping tool that helps patients and providers locate open pharmacies in areas impacted by natural disasters and public health emergencies," it stated.
11 a.m.
Sarasota County has closed access to Casey Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key and Longboat Key.
"Community members will continue to be able to get off the barrier islands, but no entry will be allowed back on until after the post-storm search and rescue mission is completed," the county stated in a news release. "When you leave the barrier islands, be sure to take everything that you and your family need for evacuation. Take enough supplies to last you and your family several days."
10:54 a.m.:
COUNTY: 'Numerous' lift stations are without power
Officials in Charlotte County are asking people to limit their water usage.
"Numerous wastewater lift stations within the county are without power," it stated in a news release. "Low pressure sewer customers must also limit water usage during the power outage. In a power outage, low pressure sewer pumps will not function."
It noted that, within its area, there are not currently any boil water notices.
"Our water systems are operational," it noted in a news release.
But it wants people to contact the county's Utilities Department if they experience a sewer back up.
"We are working to address them as soon as possible," the news release noted.
Its phone number is 941-764-4300
10:32 a.m.:
Charlotte County officials are encouraging people to use the American Red Cross to connect with loved ones after Hurricane Milton.
"The Reunification Plan tools can help if assistance is needed locating a missing friend or relative because of a current disaster," it stated in a news release.
The number is 1-800 733-2767.
"Provide as much detail as you can to assist us in potentially locating your missing loved one," the news release stated. "Alternatively, submit your information via online form at forms.juvare.com/ARC_HQ-Find-FL-Milton."
10:02 a.m.
VENICE
Venice city officials are asking for patience and urging safety Thursday morning.
"Tactical First In Teams are opening roads to critical areas for first responder access," Public Information Officer Lorraine Anderson stated in a news release. "Please continue to stay off the roadways. The roads are dangerous and all dangers are not yet identified."
Among the roads that have street flooding include North Indies Circle, Tarpon Center Drive, The Esplanade North, Flamingo Drive, Villas Drive, Gardenia Drive, Harbor Drive at Sorrento Street, Alhambra Road and Castile Street.
9:40 a.m.
SARASOTA COUNTY
Officially, the National Hurricane Center reported Hurricane Milton made landfall along Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm. At the time, it had 120 mph sustained winds and higher gusts.
Authorities around the region are working on initial assessments and repairs.
"If you are in an area that has been or is still being affected by Hurricane Milton, stay alert to post-storm hazards and continue following instructions from local officials," Sarasota County Emergency Management stated early Thursday. "Be sure to check on neighbors, especially older adults or those who may need additional assistance."
It noted its "Tactical First-In Teams" are now clearing emergency routes.
9:37 a.m.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Charlotte County officials noted storm surge did come into Charlotte Harbor and into the region.
"Several areas in Charlotte County are still experiencing significant flooding and hazards may not be visible," it stated in a news release Thursday morning. "Our Public Works Department crews are deploying to assess and clear debris from roads and identify roads that are still unpassable. We urge everyone to stay off roads until further notice. There is no guarantee any road on the way to or from any location in the county will not have some level of flooding or dangerous debris."
It noted that people need to be cautious when driving following a hurricane - especially when traffic signals are out - noting they become a four-way stop "and come to a complete stop."
"Please obey all road closure signs and barricades," it stated. "Our crews are working diligently to prepare for your safe return."
9:34 a.m.
VENICE
Venice took on storm surge much of Wednesday night and high winds, being one of the cities that took on some of the heaviest brunt of the storm.
The Venice Airport wind gauge was knocked offline during the height of the storm, with its last reading being about 75 mph in the 10 p.m. hour Wednesday.
Videos posted to national news broadcast journalists showed more than 2 feet of water in some neighborhoods in Venice and Nokomis.
9:24 a.m.
DESOTO COUNTY
DeSoto County Emergency Management officials stated they had more than 20 emergency calls throughout the night, including a structure fire that killed "multiple animals," according to DeSoto County Fire Chief Chad Jorgensen.
"More than" 20 calls across all agencies in the county, the most serious of which was a structure fire that resulted in "multiple animal deaths"
Throughout the night, they received calls of downed trees and powerlines, an injury through a laceration and a a pregnant woman who later gave birth at a hospital after rescue, he noted.
Agencies are now out on search and rescue, wellness checks, debris clearing
Water elevation at most rivers is down, but the Peace River is up. Jorgensen said he is concerned about post-storm flooding as water makes it way downriver from elsewhere.
His basic advice:
- treat every power line like it's hot
- avoid flooded water if you can, wear protective clothing if you need to
- turn off breakers until flooding damage to electricity is known
- treat every off traffic light as if it were a four-way stop sign - and be warned that not everyone will honor that.
And also:
"Everybody is tired," he said. So, he said, be kind.
EARLIER
The storm that brewed for weeks off the coast of Mexico finally spilled over into Southwest Florida late Wednesday.
Category 3 Hurricane Milton came across with 120 mph eyewall winds at Longboat and Siesta keys, but had spent much of the day churning up tornadoes across Florida, from Alligator Alley to the East Coast, which included fatalities.
Late Wednesday, there were no reports of injuries throughout Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties, but the situation was still underway.
POWER OUTAGES
In Sarasota County, 202,000 of FPL's 300,000 local customers were without power. In Charlotte County, it was 50,000 out of its 139,000 and in DeSoto County, it was 3,400 out of its 18,250 as of 9:30 p.m.
Hurricane Milton brought along its storm surge overnight, putting large portions of Punta Gorda back under water Wednesday night.
In the state, hundreds of thousands of people were without power Wednesday night.
FLOODING
TV coverage showcased heavy winds and rain in Bradenton and Venice along with images from downtown Punta Gorda floodwaters.
"It floods when you sneeze in downtown Punta Gorda, so that's not a surprise," Charlotte County Public Information Officer Brian Gleason said late Wednesday.
He was more concerned with floodwaters in Harbour Heights and El Jobean and what that might mean for Thursday.
But there was an initial hint of hope with rainfall totals being less than anticipated and high winds staying around tropical force for the city. Storm surge, which was expected to happen late Wednesday into Thursday, is the one unknown.
"Two out of the three factors that were making it a nightmare scenario didn't happen," he said. "It's a matter of what this surge does to us in the next few hours."
North Port Communications Manager Jason Bartolone said the city hadn't heard of any initial damage but were waiting on winds to die down before sending out its crews that will look into the situations.
"They will clear roadways and then we will begin to assess," he said.
But they don't do that until the winds are less than 45 mph which may not be until Thursday morning.
Bartolone and North Port Police Public Information Officer Josh Taylor both mentioned the Lady Slipper area as having more flooding issues and during the day, they sent out a notice about flood dangers.
"You don't have to be in an A or B flood zone, sometimes you will still be impact," Bartolone said.
With the ground as saturated as it is, that could be a problem.
"We'll be watching those areas that flood pretty frequently over the next three or four days," Taylor said.
Like Punta Gorda, though, North Port didn't get the "extended rainfall" that was predicted or like it received with Ian. It's too be determined how much damage Hurricane Milton did to the region.
"There's always hurricane fatigue that you have to deal with," he said. "Certainly, (Hurricane) Ian is very fresh in many people's minds - but we have tons of new people moving in every day."
Venice Municipal Airport had a windgust of 76 mph about 10 p.m. Wednesday. The floodwaters were starting to move into the city late Wednesday.
SHELTERS
Residents were told to get to a shelter since Tuesday. And many listened.
Charlotte County did not give numbers, citing privacy concerns.
Sarasota County stated it had more than 9,000 people and nearly 1,700 pets at its evacuation centers.
"Supporting our community in those centers is a dedicated team of Sarasota County employees and Sarasota County Schools personnel," it stated in a news release. "In total, there are more than 10,000 individuals in Sarasota County evacuation centers."
In Arcadia, a shelter was established as well.
"There were 491 people in the general shelter at DeSoto Middle School ...including 33 dogs, 9 cats, 1 pig, 1 goat, 1 rabbit, 7 quail and 3 quail eggs," according to Economic Development Director Sonda Guffey
There were also 73 people at the special needs shelter is at South Florida State College, 2251 NE Turner Ave., Arcadia.
The "shelter in place" order came early evening from authorities.
TORNADOS
On Wednesday afternoon, there was an unconfirmed tornado that scraped into the El Jobean area, according to Gleason.
"Aside from that, we've seen some minor flooding but ... we haven't had sustained tropical storm winds," he said.
Within the state, there were hundreds of tornado warnings on Wednesday, including about a dozen that went from DeSoto County and into Charlotte County.
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