Darkness fell as the storm hit Florida’s Gulf Coast, bringing deadly tornadoes and heavy flooding. Millions lost power, and many communities were left in ruins.
Hurricane Milton, a strong Category 3 storm, made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, Florida, on October 9, around 8:30 in the evening.
With winds over 120 miles per hour and heavy rain, the hurricane caused major damage. More than 1.1 million homes and businesses lost power, especially in Sarasota, Manatee, and Hardee counties.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) posted on Facebook, urging people to stay inside and remain alert.
As the hurricane approached, tornadoes tore through St. Lucie County, causing severe damage and deaths. Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed “multiple fatalities” in a senior community near Fort Pierce.
The exact number of deaths is still unknown as rescue teams search for survivors. “They are listening for life,” Pearson said, describing efforts to find people in the wreckage.
St. Lucie County has suffered massive destruction. County spokesman Erick Gill said, “Dozens of homes have been damaged, some with catastrophic damage.”
Statewide, about 125 homes were destroyed, mostly in senior mobile home communities, according to FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie. Emergency workers are working nonstop to help those affected.
Governor Ron DeSantis said the storm caused 116 tornado warnings across the state, with 19 tornadoes confirmed. The damage from Hurricane Milton is widespread.
In St. Petersburg, a rare rainfall event occurred, with over nine inches of rain in just three hours. This was more rain than the city usually gets in three months.
An advisory on October 10 from the National Weather Service warned of flash floods in parts of west-central Florida. Strong winds also continued to hit the east coast.
By 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time, St. Petersburg had winds of 48 mph, with gusts up to 79 mph. Orlando recorded winds of 46 mph, with gusts of 74 mph, and Cape Canaveral had winds of 52 mph, with gusts up to 67 mph.
Husband kisses wife’s head before delivery and whispers 5 words – 1 hour later he’s a single dad to quadruplets
The romance between Carlos Morales and Erica started in 2006, overcoming communication difficulties and developing into a close bond. Their dedication resulted in their marriage in 2007, at which point they excitedly set out to raise a family. Following a devastating miscarriage, Erica’s fertility treatment revealed she was expecting quadruplets, giving her newfound hope.
Carlos assumed the position of caregiver, handling domestic duties and providing support to his wife while Erica dealt with the difficulties of giving birth to four children. But on January 12, 2015, tragedy struck when Erica’s high blood pressure forced her into the hospital. Surprisingly, physicians chose to deliver the infants early since Erica was having constant contractions.
Before his wife went into the delivery room, Carlos gave her a kiss on the head and remarked, “Let’s get these babies out,” completely unaware of the momentous events that were about to happen. The C-section birth of the quadruplets—three girls and one boy—was met with immediate excitement, but it was also met with tragedy as Erica had hypovolemic shock and passed quite unexpectedly.
Carlos Jr., Paisley, Tracey, and the third girl, “Erica,” were the names he gave to his four infants after his late wife. After overcoming profound sadness, Carlos acquired vital parenting skills and appreciated Sondra Bridges, Erica’s mother.
“I went from having the best day of my life to the next morning experiencing the worst day of my life,” Carlos said, reflecting on his sudden transition into single parenting. After my wife passed away, my four children were born.
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