Hurricane Milton caused significant destruction, but some of Florida’s renowned beaches appear to have been spared.
SIESTA KEY, Fla. − Millions are without electricity, the roof of the baseball stadium has been damaged, and the iconic Salvador Dali museum is closed, all due to Hurricane Milton. Despite this, James and Jessica Dupont took their four children to the beach.
As the sun rose on the day following the hurricane’s landfall, James felt the warm white sand beneath his feet while observing his children playing nearby. Their home remained largely intact, but the heat made staying inside uncomfortable.
“It’s nicer out here,” he remarked while listening to the soothing sound of crashing waves and the calls of seagulls above.
Their outing reflects a sliver of good news for Sarasota County after the storm: Many of the area’s 35 miles of beautiful beaches, attracting 6.5 million visitors each year, may have faced minimal damage from Milton.
“Initial observations indicate that public beach parks, including Siesta Beach, seem to have not suffered significant harm,” said county spokesperson Genevieve Judge to YSL News. She did remind everyone that Sarasota County is “still assessing our local beaches for any direct damage and impacts.”
Over 3 million residents were left in the dark after Milton struck the region as a Category 3 hurricane on Thursday. While there’s still a lot to clean up – including the wreckage of Tropicana Field’s roof, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays – locals find comfort in the fact that some of Florida’s cherished attractions remain undamaged.
Just two weeks prior, Hurricane Helene had already caused significant damage to several beaches, including North Jetty Park, Turtle Beach Park, and Caspersen Park, Judge noted.
Many areas severely affected
Throughout Florida, the storm resulted in flooded roads, uprooted trees, and destroyed buildings. Siesta Key, where Milton made landfall, has seen many homes and structures badly damaged by Helene just weeks earlier, with some residents still recovering from it as Milton struck the island.
Sarasota County Chief of Emergency Management Sandra Tapfumaneyi revealed that teams are still evaluating the impact and responding to 911 calls received during the height of the storm on Wednesday night.
Drone images captured on Siesta Key early Thursday showcase the devastation, including flooded neighborhoods, downed trees, and large debris such as furniture scattered across streets.
Significant beaches affected by Hurricane Milton
Several top-rated beaches in Florida were directly in the path of Hurricane Milton, and local authorities are still evaluating the storm surge impact.
In a conversation with CBS News on Thursday morning, Tapfumaneyi stated that barrier islands like Siesta Key and coastal areas around Venice may have sustained the most severe storm surge, estimated at around 7 to 8 feet.
Other renowned beaches that experienced destructive storm surge due to Milton on Florida’s west coast include Venice, Anna Maria Island, and Lido Key Beach, located just north of Siesta Key.
However, Tapfumaneyi reassured the affected communities that the storm surge was not as severe as initially expected.
“Overall, it seems that the storm surge was less intense than predicted,” said Tapfumaneyi during the CBS Mornings news program. “This is great news for everyone.”
Damage to MLB Stadium Roof
Strong winds from Hurricane Milton left the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, damaged late Wednesday night. Officials had converted the baseball venue into a base camp for emergency responders, setting up several rows of green cots for them.
This week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the stadium would act as a base camp for 10,000 personnel engaged in debris clearance and first response efforts. Local television footage and social media images depicted sections of the stadium’s roof being ripped away due to intense winds.
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue informed ABC News that they were communicating with individuals inside the stadium, confirming everyone’s safety. According to WFTS-TV, there were no reported injuries.
ZooTampa Animals Protected Overnight
Staff at ZooTampa relocated approximately 350 animals to hurricane shelters, and a dedicated storm team remained at the zoo throughout Wednesday night, as stated by Tiffany Burns, the zoo’s senior director of animal programs, to YSL News on Thursday.
All 1,000 animals at the zoo were reported safe on Thursday, many having spent the night in their regular quarters. However, the zoo is currently without power and experienced “some damage” due to the high winds, according to spokesperson Sandra Torres.
During the night, the zoo’s six orangutans shared their shelter with unfamiliar birds, which intrigued them, said Burns.
The “highly intelligent” orangutans displayed curiosity about their new companions, and their diverse personalities were seen as a result, Burns noted.
Burns reassured YSL News that everyone at the zoo—both staff and animals—are safe after what she described as “a very long night” for the team on duty.
Mote Marine Laboratory Affected
The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, located on the Anna Maria City Pier, encountered direct impact from Hurricane Milton.
Since late September, the aquarium has been shut down as preparations were made for potential damage from Hurricane Helene, which struck on September 27. It will remain closed until further notice.
The last update from the aquarium on X, dated September 30, mentioned that staff were, at the time, cleaning up after Helene and ensuring all animals were “safe and under constant care and evaluation.”
Salvador Dalí Museum Closure
The Salvador Dalí Museum, located close to the waterfront in St. Petersburg, Florida, has been closed all week due to Hurricane Milton. Although it will close on Friday, the museum has not provided a date for its reopening.
While none of the artworks were damaged during the hurricane’s impact, the museum’s outer dome did sustain “minor damage,” according to Alexandria Hurley, the director of public relations, who informed YSL News.
Hurley stated in a Thursday email, “The art collection is completely unharmed,” expressing gratitude that all pieces remain safe and unaffected following Hurricane Milton.
Dali, one of the most notable artists of the Surrealist movement, was active between 1904 and 1989, with his works being showcased in prestigious institutions globally, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Staff from the museum, along with staff from various other cultural and educational establishments in Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa, have expressed their hopes for the safety of the local community during this time.
The museum’s update page on its website stated, “Stay safe, stay surreal.”
