Four people in St. Lucie County were killed by tornadoes triggered by Hurricane Milton just before landfall, officials said.

County Sheriff Keith Pearson previously confirmed there were “multiple deaths” afterward a dozen tornadoes formed in St. Lucie County in just 20 minutes.

One hit the Spanish Lakes Country Club retirement village in Fort Pierce, causing several deaths, Pearson said.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor expressed relief that less storm surge was recorded than expected, but issued an urgent warning to Hillsborough County residents.

The city, located on Florida’s west coast, suffered severe damage as Hurricane Milton passed through the state, Castor said in a news conference early Thursday.

Much of the panic subsided as storm surge levels in the city were below the expected 15 feet, which “provided a lot of savings, which is what we were really worried about,” the mayor added.

Castor warned that the fight against Milton was not quite over yet. Especially for the wider circle.

“At 7 a.m. ET, when the tide comes in, rivers will be flooding throughout Hillsborough County, not just the city of Tampa,” she said.

Fires broke out due to downed power lines after Hurricane Milton hit the state with its hurricane-force winds.

The Matlacha and Pine Island Fire Protection District responded to multiple calls regarding structure fires that had occurred on the Gulf Coast island in Lee County.

Photos posted on his Facebook account show the building in flames and then the smoldering ruins after it was extinguished.

“The emergency services gained access to the island a few hours ago and are responding to several emergency calls, including building fires. Please stay off the road. “We have several lines and masts broken!” wrote the fire department on Thursday morning.

Florida residents who refused to obey evacuation orders despite living in the path of Hurricane Milton were ordered to write their names in permanent marker on their arms so that their bodies could be identified if they were killed.

Millions of residents were ordered to evacuate their homes before Milton made landfall on Florida’s central west coast Wednesday evening as a devastating Category 3 hurricane.

But those who failed to heed the advice were given a harrowing warning and told to mark their limbs with their personal details to help officials identify their remains.

James Liddell has the story.

The storm surge is still too brutal for emergency responders to deploy across Sarasota County – after Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key less than 12 hours ago.

County spokesman Jamie Carson says first responders have been unable to respond even though police have received 1,400 calls since Milton entered the county.

As conditions weaken, rescue workers will be deployed to help those in need.

“So as soon as the winds die down, as soon as our tactical first-in teams get out there and clear those arteries, those major roads, our first responders will go out there and start responding to those calls,” Carson told NPR.

In the wake of Hurricane Milton on Wednesday night, a police chief made a harrowing prediction about those who ignored mandatory evacuation orders: Their bodies could be found by sunrise.

“What we’re likely to find tomorrow morning are bodies… it’s grim in some of these areas,” Bradenton police chief Melanie Bevan told BBC Radio 4 Today Early Thursday morning program.

Bevan noted that other county police chiefs have asked those who stayed to write their names in permanent marker on their limbs “so we can get someone to come get you.”

Hurricane Milton is passing off Florida’s east coast and residents are being warned of “destructive” hurricane-force winds, heavy rains and storm surge, the National Hurricane Center said.

Sustained wind speeds remain at 85 mph, with Category 1 winds about 10 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral, the NHC said.

Storm surges of up to 4 feet and 5 feet could occur on the St. Johns River and Altamaha Sound. Another ten centimeters of rain could flood the central east coast.