On October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton, a powerful storm Category 3 storm, made landfall on Florida’s west coast with winds reaching 120 mph. The storm brought widespread destruction across the region, including severe flooding, storm surges, tornadoes, and power outages, affecting millions of Florida homes and businesses. Tragically, Milton has claimed at least 11 lives, compounding the toll from Hurricane Helene, which caused significant destruction in Florida and other Southeastern states and took the lives of at least 240 people.
Hurricane Milton: Facts FAQS, and how to help
- Fast facts: Hurricane Milton
- What are the latest updates on Hurricane Milton?
- How can I help people affected by Hurricane Milton and other disasters in the U.S.?
- What is the difference between Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene?
- What is World Vision doing to help communities affected by Hurricane Milton?
Fast facts: Hurricane Milton
- Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, on the evening of October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 hurricane.
- Initially a Category 5 hurricane, Milton was downgraded to Category 3 before roaring ashore.
- Residents in Florida faced threats from tornadoes, hail, and wind, leading to mass evacuations. Milton knocked out power to over 3 million homes and businesses.
- Milton, Florida’s third landfalling hurricane for the 2024 season, followed Helene and Debby — and was the first to hit the Tampa Bay region in over a century.
What are the latest updates on Hurricane Milton?
Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm on October 9, 2024. Milton caused significant damage, including widespread storm surges, flooding, and power outages. Many Florida counties affected by the hurricane are gradually returning to normalcy.
- As of Monday, October 16, 2024, power has been restored to approximately 93% of homes and businesses that lost service.
- Many gas stations have reopened.
- Students are getting ready to return to school.
Despite positive progress, some neighborhoods still lack power, and many homes and businesses have suffered severe damage. Streets in hard-hit areas remain flooded and filled with debris.
How can I help people affected by Hurricane Milton and other disasters in the U.S.?
- Pray: Join us in praying for all those impacted by Hurricane Milton and disasters around the world.
- Give: Your gift will help deliver urgent aid to children and families affected by this hurricane and other disasters in the U.S.
What is the difference between Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene?
Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene were both significant and deadly storms, but they had some key differences:
- Hurricane Milton reached Category 5 strength but downgraded to Category 3 before landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, caused widespread damage and mass evacuations in Florida on October 9, 2024.
- In contrast, Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida on September 26, 2024, causing significant damage and leading to the evacuation of over 5 million people along the East Coast. It brought catastrophic rain and flooding to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and beyond.
What is World Vision doing to help communities affected by Hurricane Milton?
Even before Milton developed in the Gulf of Mexico, we were on the ground, aiding survivors of Hurricane Helene in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. To respond to Hurricane Milton, we have delivered 12 tractor-trailers loaded with relief supplies, including baby products, cleaning kits, personal care items, water, and food, to our partner churches in Florida to support affected families.
With the generosity of our donors and through our 20 church partnerships, we have already served a total of over 39,600 people in the impacted states of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas through our response to Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
