Hurricane Milton Rips through Florida, Claiming at Least 12 Lives

The dreaded hurricane that Florida residents were bracing for has finally passed, but not without causing significant devastation. At least twelve lives were lost, many more people are now homeless, and millions are without power. The hurricane made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, late Wednesday evening as a Category Three storm, packing winds of one hundred and twenty miles per hour. It uprooted trees and knocked down light poles, causing widespread power outages along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Many Belizeans living in the storm’s path were affected. While there have been no reports of Belizean casualties, many are now beginning the arduous task of cleaning up and repairing their damaged homes. Before hitting land, the hurricane had intensified to a Category Five in the Gulf of Mexico but weakened just before making landfall. It dumped over ten inches of rain in some parts of Florida, with other areas receiving an additional eight to twelve inches.