Hurricane Milton: Treasure Coast experiences Milton's winds, rain Thursday after landfall
Hurricane Milton: Treasure Coast experiences Milton's winds, rain Thursday after landfall
    Posted on 10/10/2024
Hurricane Milton made landfall at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near Siesta Key on Florida's West Coast and is traveling across the state before it exits on Florida's East Coast on Thursday.

Multiple suspected tornadoes touched down across the Treasure Coast, damaging homes and businesses. Streets became cluttered with fallen powerlines, trees, and flipped vehicles.

An unknown number of fatalities were reported in the St. Lucie County Lakewood Park neighborhood of Spanish Lakes Country Club. Search and rescue missions were underway last night.

Here's the latest information regarding Milton's impacts Thursday on the Treasure Coast.

Martin County residents remain under a countywide curfew until 6 a.m. Sheriff's Department issued a countywide curfew 9 p.m. Wednesday because of the "significant damage" caused from multiple tornadoes in Martin County.

"This curfew is in place to protect our citizens and local businesses and prevent potential criminals from outside the area from taking advantage of our citizens during this vulnerable time, as well as to protect citizens from driving on roadways obstructed with debris and downed power lines," Sheriff William Snyder posted on the Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

No similar announcements have been issued from Indian River or St. Lucie counties.

Power outages continue as Hurricane Milton impacts the Treasure Coast. As of 3:45 a.m., 37,570 Florida Power & Light Co. customers in St. Lucie; 19,990 in Indian River; and 9,530 in Martin counties remain without power. An additional 11,163 Fort Pierce Utilities Authority customers in St. Lucie County are without power.

Power outages continue across the Treasure Coast as winds from Hurricane Milton continue. At 2 a.m. Florida Power & Light Co. reports 42,230 of its 360,740 Treasure Coast customers were without power. This includes: 16,170 customers in Indian River County; 6,070 customers in Martin County; and 19,990 customers in St. Lucie County. Fort Pierce Utilities Authority reported 7,806 customers were without power.

Winds picked up at 1 a.m. on the Treasure Coast, as Hurricane Milton makes its way across the state. At 12:53, Vero Beach Regional Airport reported sustained winds at 47 mph, with 70 mph wind gusts. At the St. Lucie County International Airport, sustained winds are at 33 mph, with 62 mph wind gusts. At the Witham Field Airport in Stuart, sustained winds are at 38 mph, with wind gusts at 51 mph.

Doug Anderson, a Lakewood Park resident who works for R & S Metalworks & Co., saw a tornado crossing Kings Highway as he was heading home from an errand around 5 p.m.

"I saw a semi knocked sideways, a truck knocked sideways," Anderson said. "I followed the wreckage into Spanish Lakes."

The scene there was jarring.

More: Hurricane Milton: Multiple fatalities reported at Spanish Lakes Country Club Village

"It looked like someone had dropped a weight from the sky and flattened a bunch of houses," he said.

Anderson said he had never done any kind of good Samaritan work before, but felt he needed to help out if he could.

"I had never been in that position before," he said. "But I saw the position arise. I can't stand to see people in need."

Sheriff's deputies who were already on scene allowed Anderson to help move people injured by suspected tornadoes to a makeshift medical triage center at the Spanish Lakes clubhouse.

Anderson said he spent about five hours on the scene before he was told to go home. During that time, he witnessed numerous people with injuries, including a woman he transported who had a broken leg and two broken wrists.

"There's still blood on the side of my truck," Anderson said.

The property damage was also tremendous, he said.

"One of the last houses I went to looked like it had been ripped in half," he said. "The people were out front crying."

Anderson said it was difficult to manage his emotions while he worked.

"It was very heartbreaking to watch," he said. "It's very hard to keep your composure when you see someone so helpless."

Anderson gave credit to the Sheriff's Department and the other first responders who were working at the scene.

"Our sheriff is doing a very good job, considering all they've been through today," Anderson said.
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