The 2024 hurricane season has wreaked havoc on Floridians; two devastating hurricanes, Helene and Milton, have changed the whole landscape of Florida. The state had not yet recovered from the aftermath of Helene when Hurricane Milton inflicted unparalleled damage. The most dangerous hurricane, Milton, made its landfall near Siesta Key on October 9 as a category 3 storm, causing the damage of more than 30 billion dollars and loss of 27 lives.[i] But the series of catastrophes did not stop here, this hurricane brought multiple tornadoes, adding to the hurricane’s wrenching effects. These tornadoes wrecked the state, causing significant loss of life and property in mere days following the Hurricane.
Hurricanes can produce multiple tornadoes due to heavy rain and winds, and they accompany any tropical weather. In the case of Florida, after Milton, there was an extreme danger of tornado formation as the weather forecasters issued multiple threats. The onset of a series of tornadoes became evident when at least 116 tornado warnings were issued in Florida.[ii] For comparison, normally, Florida experiences an average of 50 tornadoes in a year, and this count of warnings far exceeded expectations.[iii]
Before plunging into the damage tornadoes have inflicted on Florida, it is essential to understand this phenomenon scientifically. A tornado is a vertical column of violently rotating winds that starts from a thunderstorm and reaches the ground, forming a funnel made up of water droplets, dust, and debris.[iv] The spinning air currents result when the warm air inside the thunderclouds rises, and cool air falls down. When it reaches the ground, it becomes even more ferocious and can pick up massive objects along the way. However, we still don’t know completely about their formation and intensity. Yet, they can be somewhat predictable by observing certain weather conditions, such as very unstable air along with wind shear, which is basically winds blowing at different altitudes and directions.[v] The strength of the tornado can be measured by using the Enhanced Fujita Scale that was implemented in 2007 by the National Weather Service.[vi] This rating is based on estimated wind speeds and is rated from EF0 to EF5. The scale rates tornadoes as follows: EF0 for winds of 65-85 mph, EF1 for 86-110 mph, EF2 for 111-135 mph, EF3 for 136-165 mph, EF4 for 166-200 mph, and EF5 for over 200 mph.[vii]
In light of the scientific details, the conditions were ripe and favorable for tornadoes as Hurricane Milton spent considerable time offshore with warm air and an unstable environment. As Victor Gensini, Northern Illinois University meteorology professor, mentioned:
“There’s an incredible amount of swirling going on… those tornadoes were just in a very favorable environment.”
There have been an excessive number of tornadoes in the past, such as 118 from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. However, the major difference was that the tornadoes from Milton all resulted in the initial 8 to 10 hours. Gensini again highlighted, “Hurricanes do produce tornadoes, but they’re usually weak. What we saw today was much closer to what we see in the Great Plains in the spring.”[viii] Thus, it is clear that unprecedented events have hit Florida, and they will need to make extraordinary efforts to deal with the extent of these calamities.
After Milton, within hours, tornadoes swarmed various regions; the areas most affected by these tornadoes were Hobe Sound, Port St. Lucie, Ft. Pierce, Palm Beach Gardens, and West Palm Beach.[ix] An EF3 tornado struck northern St. Lucie County having wind speeds between 136-165mph.[x] The destruction from the tornado at such speed was so rapid that in a matter of 14 minutes, it caused widespread damage to homes and businesses. According to the report of the National Weather Service (NWS), an area of 13 miles was surveyed starting from Midway Road and ending at Spanish Lakes, and stated: [xi]
“Damage was noted along the entirety of the survey path….the tornado likely started before and ended after where the survey was conducted — and we will work [with] our partners to determine the exact path length.”
A similar tornado struck in Ft. Pierce with wind speeds up to 95 mph. It was rated as an EF1 tornado whose path length was 6.75 miles and width was 150 yards. Whereas in Hobe Sound, the tornado’s intensity was 120 mph, with a maximum width of 400 yards and a length of 5.7 miles.[xii] Similar tornadoes were observed throughout Florida. The EF3 tornado that traveled from Fort Pierce to Vero Beach for 21.2 miles in 31 minutes was the most devastating. Its intensity remained fluctuating while it was 500 feet wide.
These tornadoes wreaked havoc in these areas. In Hobe Sound, the tornado uprooted around 22 trees, including huge Ficus trees, and many buildings sustained damage. Institutions like Hobe Sound Elementary School and Hobe Sound Early Learning Center suffered significant damage. It was reported that only 5 minutes were given to the administration before the tornado moved toward them.[xiii] The center manager, Kiersten Alberto, said:
“We were kind of in fight or flight, just kind of, ‘What do we need to do?’”
In Port St. Lucie, several tornadoes resulted in at least six casualties. Dozens of homes were damaged, and some were destroyed.[xiv] In addition, an EF3 tornado in Palm Beach Gardens damaged 318 homes in Avenir, 11 of which were completely eradicated. Fortunately, there were no fatalities; however, seven injuries were recorded in Palm Beach County.[xv] Bryan Schultz, a resident whose home was destroyed, likened the thunder of the tornado to a freight train:[xvi]
“The power started flickering, and you heard this sound getting louder and louder. It really did sound like a freight train.”
Despite the extensive damage and chaos, the Florida government played a critical role in the recovery and evacuation efforts following the tornadoes brought about by Hurricane Milton. Evacuation orders were issued for areas that were expected to be severely affected by the hurricane and tornadoes. Local authorities worked closely with the federal government to speed up recovery. The National Hurricane Center played a significant part when it came to the forecasting of challenging weather conditions. For the smooth evacuation of people, the state of Florida also joined Uber to ensure free and secure rides for the afflicted people to the shelters. For evacuation assistance, an exclusive helpline was created, with the number 1-800-729-3413, with different language speakers to assist with the queries. For the people who could not evacuate, shelters were provided that could accommodate pets as well.[xvii] The governor of Florida acknowledged the significant damage, stating, “We did not get the worst-case scenario, but we did get hit, and we are going to have to work to bounce back.”
Governor DeSantis urged the residents to stay cautious and take proper steps to reduce the damage as much as possible. Florida Highway Patrol cleared the sand off the roadway in Manasota Key. State and local emergency services conducted extensive rescue operations, including searching for and rescuing individuals trapped by floodwaters and tornado debris. Governor De Santis worked with federal agencies such as FEMA ( Federal Emergency Management Agency ). The agency’s leaders continue to be on the ground to support Florida residents. A staff of about 900 members is supporting recovery efforts and is trying to minimize the damage. FEMA has set up five incident staging bases with essential supplies like food and water. They had 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water ready to be deployed for the Helene and Milton response efforts, with the ability to increase those supplies if needed.
These efforts symbolize the government’s dedication to addressing the masses and their recovery. The Florida Department of Transportation cleared 22,000 truckloads of debris near the mouth of Tampa Bay. The power lines and cell phone departments were repaired, and residents mopped the towns and cities swamped by heavy rainfall. The efforts were not only catered to humans but also to animals. About 100 animals, including Caribbean flamingos, zebras, elephants, and others, were rescued from Tampa Bay Zoo.[xviii] The long-term recovery efforts will include bearing economic loss as tornadoes can cause damage of nearly millions of dollars by destroying homes, infrastructure, and agricultural lands. It can destroy natural vegetation, leading to long-term ecological impacts such as soil erosion and wildlife habitat loss. Moreover, Environmental contamination is another side effect. Florida has bared the loss of orange production due to past hurricanes and tornadoes and the recent catastrophe could be a blow for some growers.[xix] Thus, more science-based measures should be taken to save the system.
In short, this hurricane season has left Florida with devastation and chaos. Milton and a swarm of tornadoes amplified the damage and massive destruction. These tornadoes, fueled by Milton’s offshore power and unstable weather, struck numerous areas across Florida, such as St. Lucie, Hobe Sound, and Palm Beach, causing widespread destruction to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Despite facing more than 116 tornado warnings, Florida’s government and local agencies responded swiftly, issuing evacuation orders, deploying rescue operations, and collaborating with federal agencies like FEMA. While early relief efforts have helped stabilize affected regions, long-term recovery remains a challenge. Tornado damage, agricultural losses, and environmental contamination will require continued attention and more science-based strategies to prevent future catastrophes. Florida’s resilience will be tested as the state rebuilds and addresses the lingering effects of these disasters. But so far, the people of Florida have shown remarkable unity and will toward a swift recovery.
References
[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Milton
[ii] Tornadoes reported as Hurricane Milton lashes Florida (bbc.com)
[iii] Hurricane Milton spawned high number of destructive, deadly tornadoes | AP News
[iv] https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
[v] https://scijinks.gov/tornado/#:~:text=Inside%20thunderclouds%2C%20warm%2C%20humid%20air,cloud%2D%2Dbecoming%20a%20tornado.
[vi] https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/tornadoes/
[vii] https://www.weather.gov/oun/efscale
[viii] Hurricane Milton spawned high number of destructive, deadly tornadoes | AP News
[ix] https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2024/10/13/hurricane-milton-f2-tornado-f1-tornado-stuart-hobe-sound-port-salerno-martin-county-tornadoes/75657547007/
[x] https://www.tcpalm.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2024/10/12/hurricane-milton-tornado-path-fort-pierce/75644636007/
[xi] NWS: St. Lucie Co. tornado had winds up to 155 mph (wptv.com)
[xii] Hurricane Milton tornadoes Spanish Lakes, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach (tcpalm.com)
[xiii] Confirmed tornado rips through Hobe Sound, uprooting trees and damaging buildings (wpbf.com)
[xiv] At least 6 dead in St. Lucie County as Milton spawns tornadoes in Fort Pierce, Florida | Fox Weather
[xv] Over 300 Avenir homes in Palm Beach Gardens damaged by EF3 tornado (wptv.com)
[xvi] Aerial images of destruction in Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens – NBC 6 South Florida (nbcmiami.com)
[xvii] FEMA, Federal Response Positioned to Fully Support Florida Ahead of Milton Landfall | FEMA.gov
[xviii] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/florida-counts-cost-hurricane-milton-amid-political-storm-2024-10-11/
[xix] Hurricane Milton aftermath: Millions without power as residents return | AP News
