A terrifying video has emerged showing a tree falling on a moving car just before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida. The driver survived the incident, which occurred in DeLand due to the hurricane’s 120 mph winds off Florida’s west coast. As of Thursday, the death toll from the storm reached at least 15, according to CNN. The powerful tropical storm has left more than 3 million residents without power and caused widespread destruction across the state.
The storm made landfall on the west coast of Florida on Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, bringing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (205 kph).
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Urban search and rescue teams along with the Florida National Guard are working around the clock to assist those affected. According to Governor Ron DeSantis, about 1,000 people have been rescued so far. There are currently 23 rescue teams deployed throughout Florida, consisting of more than 1,600 personnel, with additional assistance expected from other states.
In St. Lucie County, one of the hardest-hit areas, residents recalled the terrifying moments when tornadoes tore through the area before the storm made landfall. Sunnier Palms Park resident Suzanne Carlos described the experience as “the scariest thing I’ve ever been through”, noting that the damage caused by the tornado was unlike anything she had ever seen since moving to Florida in 1989.
“I’ve lived in Florida since 1989. I’ve never experienced a tornado or the damage we’ve seen in this area. This was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through,” Carlos told CNN.
As recovery efforts continue, the Biden administration is closely monitoring the situation, with officials focusing on coordinating national efforts to ensure a smooth recovery process for the storm-ravaged state.