On October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton, a powerful storm Category 3 storm, made landfall on Florida’s west coast with winds reaching 120 mph. The storm brought widespread destruction across the region, including severe flooding, storm surges, tornadoes, and power outages affecting millions of Florida homes and businesses.
Here are some key facts about Hurricane Milton, Hurricane Milton disaster relief efforts, and ways to support those impacted:
Hurricane Milton: Facts FAQS, and how to help
- Fast facts: Hurricane Milton
- What are the latest updates on Hurricane Milton?
- What is the current path of Hurricane Milton?
- How can I help people affected by Hurricane Milton and other disasters in the U.S.?
- What is the difference between Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene?
- What is World Vision doing to help communities affected by Hurricane Milton?
Fast facts: Hurricane Milton
- Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, on the evening of October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 hurricane.
- Initially a Category 5 hurricane, Milton was downgraded to Category 3 before roaring ashore.
- Residents in Florida faced threats from tornadoes, hail, and wind, leading to mass evacuations. Milton knocked out power to over 3 million homes and businesses.
- Milton, Florida’s third landfalling hurricane for the 2024 season, followed Helene and Debby — and was the first to hit the Tampa Bay region in over a century.
What are the latest updates on Hurricane Milton?
Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm on October 9, 2024. The hurricane has caused significant damage, including widespread storm surges, flooding, and power outages. On October 10, the U.S. National Hurricane Center canceled all storm surge and tropical storm warnings related to Milton, which has become a post-tropical cyclone.
What is the current path of Hurricane Milton?
On October 10, 2024, Milton was located approximately 220 miles northeast of Great Abaco Island and moving east from Florida’s coastline.
How can I help people affected by Hurricane Milton and other disasters in the U.S.?
- Pray: Join us in praying for all those impacted by Hurricane Milton and disasters around the world.
- Give: Your gift will help deliver urgent aid to children and families affected by this hurricane and other disasters in the U.S. All gifts to World Vision’s U.S. Disaster Relief Fund from now through December 31 will be matched to serve U.S. families in need of emergency aid, up to $500,000.
What is the difference between Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene?
Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene were both significant and deadly storms, but they had some key differences:
- Hurricane Milton, reached Category 5 strength but downgraded to Category 3 before landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, caused widespread damage and mass evacuations in Florida on October 9, 2024.
- In contrast, Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida on September 26, 2024, causing significant damage and leading to the evacuation of over 5 million people along the East Coast. It brought catastrophic rain and flooding to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and beyond.
What is World Vision doing to help communities affected by Hurricane Milton?
Even before Milton developed in the Gulf of Mexico, we were on the ground, aiding survivors of Hurricane Helene in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. To respond to Hurricane Milton, we’ve dispatched 10 tractor-trailers loaded with relief supplies to our partner churches in Florida to support affected families.
With the generosity of our donors and through our church partnerships, we have already served at least 5,000 people in the impacted states of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina through our Hurricane Helene response. We’ve scaled our efforts to meet the growing needs of those affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
