At least 340 people and 49 pets have been rescued in Florida, DeSantis says
As of Thursday afternoon, more than 340 people and 49 pets have been rescued in Florida, according to Governor Ron DeSantis. He noted that the Florida National Guard, local law enforcement, and urban search and rescue teams remain active throughout the state in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.
Damage assessments are ongoing, and around 280 traffic signals are currently non-operational, DeSantis stated during a briefing in Sarasota.
“In some areas, the worst-case scenarios that were predicted didn’t happen,” DeSantis said. “I’m confident in our ability as a state to assess the damage and bounce back.”
Despite some improvements, a storm surge is still expected in certain regions, and major flooding remains a significant concern, explained Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. He urged residents in affected areas to continue sheltering in place.
“Please avoid visiting impacted areas. Doing so hinders first responders,” Guthrie added.
