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October 11, 2024 — A powerful Category 4 storm, Hurricane Milton, swept through the southeastern United States overnight, leaving widespread destruction and a confirmed death toll of 10 as rescue and recovery efforts continue. The storm, which made landfall near the Gulf Coast late last night, packed winds of over 150 mph and unleashed torrential rains, causing flash flooding, widespread power outages, and leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins.
Landfall and Devastation
Hurricane Milton struck hardest along the coastal areas of Louisiana and Mississippi before tearing through parts of Alabama and Georgia. Thousands of residents had been ordered to evacuate ahead of the storm, but many chose to stay behind, some underestimating its intensity or fearing for their property.
The city of Biloxi, Mississippi, was one of the worst hit. Officials there reported extensive structural damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Roads are impassable due to downed trees, power lines, and floodwaters that have yet to recede. Emergency crews are struggling to reach isolated communities that have been completely cut off.
Among the victims were two first responders whose boat capsized while attempting to rescue stranded residents from rising floodwaters. Several others perished when a tornado, spun off by the hurricane’s winds, tore through a small mobile home community in Louisiana, reducing it to rubble in minutes.
Emergency Response Underway
Federal and state officials have declared a state of emergency, and search-and-rescue operations are currently underway in the most affected regions. Thousands of National Guard troops have been deployed, with helicopters flying over damaged areas in search of survivors trapped in flooded or collapsed buildings.
Governor Bill Connor of Mississippi described the storm as “a nightmare of destruction,” warning that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue their grim work. “We have communities that are entirely underwater, roads that look like rivers. It’s going to take days, maybe weeks, to assess the full extent of the damage,” Connor said in a press briefing this morning.
In addition to the casualties, more than 1.5 million people are without power, with utilities warning that it could take days to restore electricity in some areas. Hospitals, already strained by a surge in patients suffering from storm-related injuries, are running on backup generators, and officials are urging residents to conserve fuel.
Survivors Share Their Stories
For those who weathered the storm, the experience was terrifying. Local resident Maria Johnson described how she and her family barely survived. “We had to climb into the attic to escape the rising water. The wind was howling, and then there was this huge crash — part of the roof came off. We just prayed we’d make it through the night.”
Others were less fortunate. In the small town of Larksville, Alabama, where four deaths were confirmed, residents are mourning the loss of loved ones. “I lost my neighbor, an elderly woman who just couldn’t get out in time,” said Mark Peterson, choking back tears. “We tried, but the water rose so fast.”
Looking Ahead
As Milton moves further inland and weakens, authorities are turning their attention to the recovery effort. FEMA has already set up relief stations in affected areas, providing water, food, and shelter to displaced families. Donations are pouring in from across the country, though officials say it will take months, if not years, for these communities to rebuild.
Meteorologists are also warning of additional risks, including the potential for more flash flooding as the storm’s remnants move north. Rivers are already at or above flood stage in many areas, and with more rain in the forecast, officials fear that the worst may not yet be over.
For now, though, the focus remains on saving lives and bringing comfort to those devastated by Hurricane Milton’s deadly rampage.
