Hurricane Milton brought strong winds and heavy rainfall as it swept through Florida, causing significant damage and flooding in its path. Some of the most notable reports from the storm include:
- Wind gusts reaching up to 105 mph at Egmont Channel, 102 mph at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, 101 mph at St. Petersburg (Albert Whitted Airport), 97 mph in Tampa, and 96 mph in Bradenton.
- Rainfall totals from Wednesday to Thursday morning, with St. Petersburg (Albert Whitted Airport) recording 18.54 inches, Temple Terrace with 15.66 inches, Zephyrhills with 14.13 inches, Baskin with 13.08 inches, and Clearwater with 12.52 inches.
Following the storm, about a quarter of gas stations in Florida were reported to have run out of fuel. The gas station outages were particularly high in the hardest-hit areas, with 63% of stations in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area and 44% in Sarasota experiencing shortages. In the Fort Myers-Naples area, 37% of stations were without fuel, while 28% in the Orlando-Daytona Beach area faced similar shortages.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis assured that efforts were underway to ensure the flow of fuel to gas stations and stores. Despite concerns about potential storm surge damage, the Port of Tampa emerged relatively unscathed, providing hope for the distribution of fuel across the state. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor confirmed that the port was in good condition, allowing for the transportation of fuel to various parts of Florida, including diesel and jet fuel to airports.
