Hurricane Milton makes landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast

This article will be updated.

Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday night on Florida's Gulf Coast, about 250 miles south of where Hurricane Helene made landfall less than two weeks ago.

According to the Associated Press, "Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, and whipping up a barrage of tornadoes. It caused at least four deaths and compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct hit. The storm tracked to the south in the final hours and made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night in Siesta Key, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Tampa. While it caused a lot of damage and water levels may continue to rise for days, Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was not 'the worst case scenario.'"

The AP said that the anticipated storm surge in Tampa appeared not to have occurred, although the situation in the Tampa area was still a major emergency, with up to 18 inches of rain. The AP said DeSantis reported the worst storm surge in Sarasota County at 8 to 10 feet.

According to the AP, the danger has still not passed Thursday: Storm surge and tropical storm warnings remain in place throughout the Atlantic coast, debris and downed power lines are widespread and power is out for millions across Florida.

Milton spent much of Tuesday as a Category 5 storm, dropping to Category 4 status on Wednesday morning and to a Category 3 storm Wednesday afternoon. It was downgraded to a Category 2 after making landfall Wednesday night and was a Category 1 storm Thursday morning.

The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) has shared hurricane preparedness and recovery resources. Its office is closed with limited operations Thursday.

Hurricane Milton damage

Orange Lake Nursery, an online plant nursery in Lorida, Florida, specializing in rare and exotic plants, said on Facebook that the business "lost everything" due to a tornado Wednesday afternoon, ahead of Milton's landfall.

Hurricanes and tropical storms can also produce tornadoes, most often occurring in thunderstorms embedded in rain bands well away from the center of the hurricane, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center.

“Frank, the dogs, & myself are okay,” the nursery wrote on Facebook. “Frank's quick thinking got us into the laundry room & to safety. Some broken windows on the house but we are okay. The neighborhood is working on clearing the roads for emergency responders. The business is destroyed. We are without power & we don't know for how long. We will reach out & be in touch as soon as possible. Tornado just came out of nowhere. I have never been so scared. We are still bracing for the hurricane that is still in route. We are so grateful for your prayers & patience. Other than that, I am not sure what we need or where to even start.” 

Several people commented on the nursery's post offering their support.

"As a customer, if there’s anything I can do- please let me know," commented Mary Nicole. "Once the hurricane is over and you all know the full extent of everything, please make a post with needs! I’d love to help and so would others!"

"I know this is probably furthest from your mind right now, but If there are species you find you’ve lost entirely, I have a large collection and would be more than happy to send you established plants of whatever species I have that you find you’ve lost to help reestablish mother plants. And I know I’m not the only one willing to help in this way," commented Lauren Melcher Davis.

What to do if your business was damaged in Hurricane Milton

Nursery Management wrote this previous guide on what to do after hurricane damage: 

• Secure your structures and buildings. Make any necessary repairs to your structures so they are secure from the weather and intrusion. 

• Take care of your plant material. Stand up all plant material as quickly as possible to prevent burning from laying in the sun. Re-stake material as quickly as possible. Irrigate to flush any salt residue. The closer to the coast you are, the more important this is. The force of hurricane winds can carry salt spray for miles. Replant any material needing it. Prune to correct any damage. 

• Notify the proper authorities in the event of storm damage. Notify the local police or sheriff’s department of any road obstructions or hazardous situations. Notify your electric company of any downed lines or power outages so they can get your request in their repair sequences. Report water, sewer or gas line breaches to the appropriate authority. 

• If necessary, notify disaster assistance agencies of your needs. If you have crop insurance, you may qualify for disaster assistance or low-cost loans. Contact the appropriate agency as soon as possible for instruction. 

• Notify your customers of your situation. As quickly as possible, let your customers know how well you survived the storm and when you anticipate servicing their accounts. 

• Photograph and document damage before you start clean-up. 

More ways to help in Milton aftermath 

The AP put together this guide to helping in the aftermath of Helene, which will also be applicable post-Milton: 

• Cash is king. Many groups providing aid will only accept cash donations because the needs are not fully known and it does not require additional resources to get the donations to those in need. Food and clothing drives may be helpful later in the process in specific communities, but it can divert manpower to connect the right people with the right items. 

• Give to charities already working in the area. If you want suggestions, Charity Navigator has curated lists of organizations and people in the affected areas. 

• Look for matching donations. Nonprofits recognize that individuals may not be able to give as much as they would like due to the current economy and the number of current global crises. Experts suggest giving through places that will provide a matching donation.  

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has also compiled an extensive list of resources for post-Milton assistance and recovery.

Katie McDaniel is assistant editor of Nursery Management magazine. Emily Mills is digital editor of Garden Center, Greenhouse Management, Nursery Management and Produce Grower magazines. Contact them at kmcdaniel@gie.net and emills@gie.net.