Despite warnings of Hurricane Milton's potentially devastating impact on Florida, particularly in Tampa, Cuban native Denise Díaz chose to stay put, defying evacuation orders to ride out what she later called a "monstrous" night with her family. In a TikTok video, Díaz (@denisediaz017) shared her real-time account of the storm's ferocity, expressing both fear and astonishment at its magnitude.
"The wind is blowing super hard, I can't do any live videos," Díaz began her account, her voice betraying her anxiety. "My God, you can't be outside, this is terrifying," she added, describing the dangers lurking beyond her home's walls.
Clearly shaken by the hurricane's force, Díaz continued, "The wind is howling, it sounds like there's a ghost outside... I've never heard anything like this, it's horrible." As the storm's intensity grew, her concern for her children mounted: "I'm in a safe area, the safest area of my house. The kids are here."
Though she was grateful for retaining power in her home, she noted that the electricity had flickered twice, adding to the uncertainty. In another video, the young mother provided a more dramatic depiction of the hurricane's impact: "The roof of Tropicana Field has blown off, fences are flying, a crane has fallen, this has been terrible."
The sheer power of the wind and flooding left her nearly speechless: "This is a monster. May God protect us, may God protect Tampa, our families, and homes." In a third post, Díaz emphasized the dire situation: "Nothing will remain... I've never seen anything like this before, it's a monster."
Hurricane Milton's passage through Florida resulted in extensive damage and several fatalities. Beyond flooding, the hurricane caused significant destruction not only due to its winds but also from the 19 confirmed tornadoes, nine of which struck South Florida, preceding the storm's landfall.
In Tampa, for instance, Hurricane Milton tore off the roof of the Tampa Bay Rays stadium, which was intended to shelter thousands of evacuees and emergency workers.