The marine rescue unit from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Florida made a remarkable rescue on Thursday, saving a boy who managed to survive Hurricane Milton by floating on boards in a completely flooded neighborhood. Sheriff Chad Chronister and the HCSO maritime team reached the 14-year-old boy using a boat. He was discovered partially submerged in floodwaters, clinging to boards and debris left in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
At the scene, floodwaters had engulfed the first floors of homes, prompting rescuers to patrol the area in small boats. This powerful storm made landfall in Siesta Key, south of Sarasota, Tampa, and St. Petersburg, as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Although now downgraded to Category 1 and moving away from Florida's east coast, it continues to wreak havoc in the region.
The authorities have reported severe flooding and extensive damage in various cities, leaving over three million homes without power. While some hurricane and tropical storm warnings have been lifted along Florida's west coast, other areas remain under threat, including storm surge warnings. Meteorologists caution that rain and wind conditions will persist in the central and eastern parts of the state, with an additional 2 to 4 inches of rainfall expected, which could lead to flash flooding.
Ongoing Threats and Response Efforts
Hurricane Milton is projected to weaken gradually as it heads toward the northern Bahamas, though it may transform into a strong extratropical low later tonight. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and are providing assistance to those affected by this natural disaster.