ORLANDO, Fla. — (AP) — Florida residents repaired damage from Hurricane Milton and cleaned up debris Friday after the storm smashed through coastal communities and tore homes to pieces, flooded streets and spawned a barrage of deadly tornadoes.
At least eight people were dead, but many expressed relief that Milton wasn’t worse. The hurricane spared densely populated Tampa a direct hit, and the lethal storm surge that scientists feared never materialized.
Arriving just two weeks after the devastating Hurricane Helene, the system flooded barrier islands, tore the roof off the Tampa Bay Rays ' baseball stadium and toppled a construction crane.
As residents assessed damage to their property, over 2.5 million customers in Florida remained without power Friday morning, according to poweroutage.us. But the state’s vital tourism industry started to return to normal, with several theme parks preparing to reopen.
A flood of vehicles headed south Thursday evening on Interstate 75, the main highway that runs through the middle of the state, as relief workers and evacuated residents returned to assess the aftermath. Bucket trucks and fuel tankers streamed by, along with portable bathroom trailers and a convoy of emergency vehicles.
As residents raced back to find out whether their homes were destroyed or spared, finding gas was still a challenge. Fuel stations were still closed as far away as Ocala, more than a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of where the storm made landfall as a Category 3 near Siesta Key in Sarasota County on Wednesday night.
Natasha Ducre and her husband, Terry, were just feeling lucky to be alive. Milton peeled the tin roof off of their cinderblock home in their neighborhood a few blocks north of the Manatee River, about a 45-minute drive south of Tampa.
Hurricane Milton A Port Orange, FL mobile home's wall was ripped away by Hurricane Milton in Oct. 2024. (Nick Papantonis)
Hurricane Milton A woman walks through flood waters to get food after Hurricane Milton blew through South Daytona, FL in Oct. 2024. (Nick Papantonis)
Hurricane Milton Police watch as a car is towed in Port Orange, FL following Hurricane Milton in Oct. 2024. (Nick Papantonis)
Hurricane Milton A car submerged in a pond after Hurricane Milton blew through Port Orange, FL in Oct. 2024. (Nick Papantonis)
Hurricane Milton SoDo District (Jason Kelly /Jason Kelly)
Hurricane Milton Lake Davis (Jason Kelly /Jason Kelly)
Hurricane Milton (Jason Kelly /Jason Kelly)
Hurricane Milton SoDo District (Jason Kelly /Jason Kelly)
Hurricane Milton SoDo District (Jason Kelly /Jason Kelly)
Hurricane Milton Lake Cherokee (Jason Kelly /Jason Kelly)
Hurricane Milton Lake Cherokee (Jason Kelly /Jason Kelly)
Hurricane Milton Lake Davis (Jason Kelly /Jason Kelly)
Hurricane Milton Weather A house, center, lies toppled off its stilts after the passage of Hurricane Milton, alongside an empty lot where a home was swept away by Hurricane Helen, in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Hurricane Milton Weather A water rescue boat moves in flood waters at an apartment complex in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Clearwater, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
Hurricane Milton
Possible Tornado Conway area of Orange County
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Brandon Marlow walks through surge waters flooding the street after Hurricane Milton came ashore in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. People are waiting to assess the damage after the Cat 3 hurricane came ashore. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Volusia County
Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton Clearwater
Hurricane Milton Clearwater
Hurricane Milton Winter Garden
Hurricane Milton Clearwater
Hurricane Milton Volusia County
Hurricane Milton
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: A woman in a wheelchair makes her way along a downtown sidewalk as Hurricane Milton makes landfall on October 09, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though avoiding the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: A person walks through surge waters after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though veering south of the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports.. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: A person walks through surge waters after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though veering south of the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports.. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida SARASOTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 10: Storm debris after Hurricane Milton October 10, 2024 in Sarasota, Florida. The storm made landfall at Siesta Key. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Surge waters flood the street after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though veering south of the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports.. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Brandon Marlow walks through surge waters flooding the street after Hurricane Milton came ashore in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. People are waiting to assess the damage after the Cat 3 hurricane came ashore. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: A television reporter stands on a downtown street as Hurricane Milton makes landfall on October 09, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though avoiding the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: People walk along a street through the wind and rain after power was knocked as Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though veering south of the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports.. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida SARASOTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 10: Boats at Marina Jack following Hurricane on Milton October 10, 2024 in Sarasota, Florida. The storm made landfall at Siesta Key. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: A television reporter stands in a downtown street as Hurricane Milton makes landfall on October 09, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though avoiding the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: A television reporter stands on a downtown street as Hurricane Milton makes landfall on October 09, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though avoiding the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida SARASOTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 9: Wind and rain batter the area as Hurricane Milton approaches on October 9, 2024 in Sarasota, Florida. Milton, which comes just after the recent catastrophic hurricane Helene, will hit Florida's central Gulf Coast and is expected to make landfall with destructive winds and flooding. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 09: Members of the media work in flooded streets after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Sarasota area on October 09, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. Milton, coming on the heels of the destructive Helene, hit as a category 3 storm with winds of over 100 mph, though veering south of the projected direct hit on Tampa. Instead, the storm, which earlier had reportedly spawned tornadoes, landed about 70 miles south of Tampa near Siesta Key, a strip of white-sand beaches that's home to 5,500 people, according to published reports.. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida PORT CHARLOTTE - OCTOBER 10: A boat rests on a road after Hurricane Milton came ashore on October 10, 2024, in Port Charlotte, Florida. The storm came ashore as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Volusia County pounded by dangerous winds as Hurricane Milton moves away from Florida
Putnam County Milton damage The Crill Avenue underpass was closed Wednesday prior to the storm due to flooding.
Hurricane Milton Barrels Into Florida PORT CHARLOTTE - OCTOBER 10: A boat rests on a road after Hurricane Milton came ashore on October 10, 2024, in Port Charlotte, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Clay County Sheriff's Office Clay County Sheriff's officials gathered Thursday morning before hitting the streets to survey damage from Hurricane Milton. (Clay County Sheriff's Office)
St. Johns County Flood damage St. Johns County flooding Thursday morning in the wake of Hurricane Milton
St. Johns County Flood damage St. Johns County flooding Thursday morning in the wake of Hurricane Milton
St. Johns County Flood damage St. Johns County flooding Thursday morning in the wake of Hurricane Milton
More than 3 million without power as Hurricane Milton slams Florida, causes deaths and flooding
Damage in Cocoa Beach, Florida after Hurricane Milton
Flooding in Florida after Hurricane Milton
Damage in Cocoa Beach, Florida after Hurricane Milton
Damage in Cocoa Beach, Florida after Hurricane Milton
Flooding in Florida after Hurricane Milton (Accuweather)
Flooding in Florida after Hurricane Milton
Damage in Cocoa Beach, Florida after Hurricane Milton
Heavy rain and winds in Florida during Hurricane Milton
Damage in Cocoa Beach, Florida after Hurricane Milton
Flooding in Florida after Hurricane Milton (Accuweather)
Heavy rain and winds in Florida during Hurricane Milton
Transformer blows in Florida during Hurricane Milton
Heavy rain and winds in Florida during Hurricane Milton
Flooding in Florida after Hurricane Milton (Accuweather)
Damage in Cocoa Beach, Florida after Hurricane Milton
Tropicana Field's roof torn off by Hurricane Milton's winds Photo contributed by WTSP TV (contributed by NewsPath) (WTSP TV (contributed by NewsPath) /WTSP TV (contributed by NewsPath))
Heavy rain and winds in Orlando, Florida as Hurricane Milton moves through (WSB-TV)
Heavy rain and winds in Orlando, Florida as Hurricane Milton moves through (WSB-TV)
Heavy rain and winds in Orlando, Florida as Hurricane Milton moves through (WSB-TV)
Volusia County Sheriff's Office Hurricane Milton Volusia County Sheriff's briefing with high water rescue teams ahead of anticipated flooding in Volusia County overnight. (WFTV)
Volusia County Sheriff's Office Hurricane Milton Volusia County Sheriff's briefing with high water rescue teams ahead of anticipated flooding in Volusia County overnight. (WFTV)
Polk Fire Rescue Hurricane Milton Polk County Fire Rescue personnel are prepping department specialty equipment for post-storm recovery efforts. (WFTV)
Orlando Police Department Hurricane Milton OPD's Emergency Services Unit, working hard to ensure all equipment needed to support residents and visitors of Orlando is ready. (WFTV)
Polk Fire Rescue Hurricane Milton Polk County Fire Rescue personnel are prepping department specialty equipment for post-storm recovery efforts. (WFTV)
Polk Fire Rescue Hurricane Milton Polk County Fire Rescue personnel are prepping department specialty equipment for post-storm recovery efforts. (WFTV)
Polk Fire Rescue Hurricane Milton Polk County Fire Rescue personnel are prepping department specialty equipment for post-storm recovery efforts. (WFTV)
Orlando Police Department Hurricane Milton OPD's Emergency Services Unit, working hard to ensure all equipment needed to support residents and visitors of Orlando is ready. (WFTV)
Tampa Hurricane Milton
Channel 9's Daryl Matthews shares what Osceola County is doing as Hurricane Milton nears
Flagler County inmates fill sandbags In preparation for Hurricane Milton, inmate work crews helped fill and distribute over 10,000 sandbags at Hidden Trails Community Center and Bay Drive Park.
Sheriff Rick Staly met with the crews, thanking them for their contribution to our community. (WFTV)
Flagler County inmates fill sandbags In preparation for Hurricane Milton, inmate work crews helped fill and distribute over 10,000 sandbags at Hidden Trails Community Center and Bay Drive Park.
Sheriff Rick Staly met with the crews, thanking them for their contribution to our community. (WFTV)
Flagler County inmates fill sandbags In preparation for Hurricane Milton, inmate work crews helped fill and distribute over 10,000 sandbags at Hidden Trails Community Center and Bay Drive Park.
Sheriff Rick Staly met with the crews, thanking them for their contribution to our community. (WFTV)
Flagler County inmates fill sandbags In preparation for Hurricane Milton, inmate work crews helped fill and distribute over 10,000 sandbags at Hidden Trails Community Center and Bay Drive Park.
Sheriff Rick Staly met with the crews, thanking them for their contribution to our community. (WFTV)
Impact of Hurricane Milton is creeping through Brevard County
Possible Tornado Conway area of Orange County
Traffic leaving Tampa ahead of Milton
Tornadoes spotted in South Florida as Hurricane Milton creeps closer (The National Weather Service /The National Weather Service)
Hurricane Milton ISS
Hurricane Milton produces tornadoes in Florida Hurricane Milton produces tornadoes in Florida
Hurricane Milton preps ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 8: Workers board up a business ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in St. Petersburg, Florida, US, on October 8, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton preps ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 8: Workers board up a business ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in St. Petersburg, Florida, US, on October 8, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Hurricane Milton preps ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 8: Workers board up a business ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in St. Petersburg, Florida, US, on October 8, 2024. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
She pushed to leave as the storm barreled toward them Wednesday night after he resisted evacuating their three-bedroom house where he grew up and where the couple lived with their three kids and two grandchildren. She believes the decision saved their lives.
They returned to find the roof of their home scattered in sheets across the street, the wooden beams of what was their ceiling exposed to the sky. Inside, fiberglass insulation hung down in shreds, their belongings soaked by the rain and littered with chunks of shattered drywall.
“It ain’t much, but it was ours. What little bit we did have is gone,” she said. “It’s gone.”
With shelters no longer available and the cost of a hotel room out of reach, they plan to cram into Terry Ducre’s mother’s house for now. After that, they’re not sure.
“I don’t have no answers,” Natasha Ducre said. “What is my next move? What am I going to do?”
Meanwhile, Florida theme parks including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld planned to reopen Friday after an assessment of the effects of the storm.
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Orlando International Airport, the state’s busiest, said departures for domestic flights and international flights would resume Friday, after resuming domestic arrivals Thursday evening. The airport had minor damage, including a few leaks and downed trees.
Milton prevented Simon Forster, his wife and their two children from returning to Scotland as planned Wednesday evening, so they enjoyed an extra two days of their two-week vacation on a bustling International Drive in Orlando’s tourism district on Thursday. Hurricanes seem to follow them since 2022′s Hurricane Ian kept them from returning to Scotland after another Orlando vacation.