Milton’s Storm Surge Threatens Destruction in the Dark

Milton’s Storm Surge Threatens Destruction in the Dark

A combination of unrelenting rains and strong storm surge prompted officials to issue flash flood warnings in western and Central Florida.

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By Orlando Mayorquín

Storm surge along the western Florida coast began to pick up as daylight dwindled and Hurricane Milton came ashore with its heavy rains and damaging winds, bringing the threat of major flooding.

Flood gauges showed rapidly rising water levels on the coast at Fort Myers and Naples Bay shortly after Milton’s center arrived on land near Sarasota. Forecasters warned of the life threatening surge, which was expected to reach up to 13 feet in some areas, like Boca Grande on the far edges of the western coast.

The term storm surge describes the dramatic, higher-than-expected rise in water levels brought on by a storm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline,” forecasters had earlier warned.

In Tampa Bay, officials issued a flash flood emergency, a rare alert used when flooding is expected to inflict catastrophic damage and pose a severe threat to human life.

Storm surge has been a particular point of emphasis with this hurricane among officials as it’s been responsible for dozens of deaths in storms past. In 2022, for example, 41 deaths during Hurricane Ian were attributed to storm surge.

Images on social media taken before Milton’s arrival showed signs of the deluge to come, with water beginning to lap over sidewalks and roadways. Some videos showed the light from buildings reflecting brightly off the water against the darkness of night as it rushed over streets and into buildings.

More on Hurricane Milton

• Florida on High Alert: Hurricane Milton threatened nearly the entire state as it blew in from the Gulf of Mexico, yet another case of a menacing storm putting many of Florida’s 23 million residents in danger.
• Some Inmates Will Not Evacuate: Manatee County, just south of Tampa, has ordered residents in three evacuation zones to get out. But the inmates and staff of the county jail will stay put.
• Can Electric Vehicles Catch Fire in Hurricanes?: E.V. batteries that are submerged in saltwater can catch fire after the floods subside, but experts say it’s a rarity.
• FEMA’s Severe Staffing Shortage: Fewer than 10% of the agency’s disaster workers are available to respond to Hurricane Milton and other calamities.