Widespread damage, power outages across Florida as high winds, tornadoes, flooding sweep state

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – About 125 homes were destroyed before Hurricane Milton even made landfall Wednesday night, many of them mobile homes in communities for senior citizens, according to state officials.

The damage only got worse as Milton slammed into the west coast of Florida as a dangerous Category 3 storm.

Much of the damage caused by the storm early Wednesday was the result of tornadoes.

Multiple tornadoes touched down across South Florida and a record number of Tornado Warnings were issued. Damage was widespread on both coasts.

CBS12.com reported that multiple people were killed Wednesday afternoon when as many as 12 tornadoes ripped through the Fort Pierce area, hours before Milton made landfall in Siesta Key.

Fort Pierce is about 150 miles away on the opposite side of the state.

According to CBS12.com, St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson said six to 12 confirmed high-strength tornadoes tore through the area in a 20-minute span, killing some residents at the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village, a 55+ community.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Tree falls onto moving car in Florida during Hurricane Milton

The National Weather Service says it has received reports of multiple collapsed cranes due to high winds in St. Petersburg, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Siesta Key, where Milton made landfall.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue confirmed one collapse late Wednesday about six blocks from the city’s pier. There were no reports of injuries.

The crane was at the site of a 515-foot-tall (157-meter-tall) luxury high-rise building under construction that is being billed as one of the tallest buildings on the west coast of Florida. It was scheduled to be completed in summer 2025.

(Press play on the video above to see footage of the damage)

News4JAX partner station WPLG shared a video of the roof being destroyed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and of a tornado spotted near Alligator Alley.

News4JAX sister station WKMG in Orlando reported that as many as eight buildings and possibly some homes in Brevard County sustained damage Wednesday from what’s believed to be a tornado spawned by Hurricane Milton.

WPTV reported that a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office facility was damaged by a suspected tornado. The Sheriff’s Office said there were multiple fatalities in a nearby community.

MORE| Multiple tornadoes touch down in South Florida before Hurricane Milton makes landfall

More than 1.9 million Florida customers were without power as of 11 p.m., according to poweroutage.us.

Videos posted to social media sites showed large funnel clouds over neighborhoods in Palm Beach County and elsewhere in the state.

The storm was also expected to bring a dangerous storm surge to the Tampa Bay region, and video on social media showed waves crashing over sea walls and into parking garages and boats being tossed around in the wind.

The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office shared photos of Hurricane Milton’s damage in the Tropical Harbor Mobile Home Park in Lake Placid, which is about 90 miles directly east of Siesta Key, where Milton made landfall Wednesday night.

The State Assistance Information Line is now open and accepting calls 24/7 with English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole speakers available at 1-800-342-3557.