A race is underway to rescue residents after Hurricane Milton plowed into the west coast of Florida as a powerful Cat. 3 storm.
Many people were trapped as the hurricane passed through the state.
Floridians who sought refuge in shelters or hunkered down in their homes are now getting a first look at the destruction, while others are actively being rescued.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said 9,000 National Guardsmen have been mobilized to respond to the storm, along with 1,400 search-and-rescue first responders.
Rescue efforts have been underway from the overnight hours well into Thursday after Milton pummeled the Gulf Coast.
Teams have been navigating high floodwaters to help people onto rescue boats, getting them out of hurricane-ravaged homes and to safety.
“I’m just glad we’re out and to safety,” one person who was rescued said. “And to where we can charge up our phones because we don’t have any power and my family is probably wondering where I’m at.”
In Clearwater, a Pinellas County sheriff’s vehicle took previously stranded residents through the high water that inundated the coastal town’s streets.
One rescue boat took a family with a small child from their flooded home to dry land.
Rescuers were also seen wading through chest high water to get to a woman who was spotted on her balcony, unable to access the lower floor of her flooded apartment building.
Tampa police also shared video of officers entering a home to rescue a family from their house after a tree crashed through their roof.
And another video shows Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies patrolling by boat near Tampa Thursday morning when they came across a 14-year-old boy who was floating in the water.
The teen was hanging onto part of a fence to stay above water. Thankfully, he will be OK.
There are also 50,000 linemen on hand to help restore power to the millions who are now without electricity.
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