Milton blamed for at least 17 deaths
NBC News has confirmed a total of 17 people that died as a result of Hurricane Milton in Florida.
There was one death in Citrus County, two deaths in Pinellas County, six in St. Lucie County, four in Volusia County, one in Polk County, two in Hillsborough County and one in Orange County.
Milton touched down near Siesta Key in Sarasota County on Wednesday night.
'Heart-wrenching': Storm-ravaged homeowners struggle with insurance
Back-to-back destructive hurricanes are putting Florida’s insurance system to the test. Florida Policy Project President and former state Sen. Jeff Brandes joins Chris Jansing to provide more insight on the impact of the storms, saying property insurance companies will “take a hit” however they will get through it.
Finding gas in Tampa Bay area has become increasingly difficult
My rented sedan's gas tank was full Monday evening. But after reporting driving throughout Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, back and forth to Sarasota and everywhere in between, I have about another 50 miles in me before I hit empty.
Even with the — in theory — helpful GasBuddy app, I'm struggling to find a station with available fuel. Throughout the last hour, I've driven to at least four gas stations in the Tampa Bay area that, according to GasBuddy, have fuel, but in reality do not.
If you're in the Clearwater area and happen to have a Costco membership, don't mind waiting in what looks like an hourslong line: You're in luck! The Costco gas station in Clearwater has fuel. Unfortunately, for me, I'm not a member.
Of course, this is a minor inconvenience compared with the real hardship Floridians have faced in recent days.
Could hurricanes Milton and Helene impact voting? Two states are tweaking voting rules
Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene could end up having a real impact on how many voters cast a ballot this year. MSNBC legal correspondent Lisa Rubin and former Rep. David Jolly join Chris Jansing on the efforts in Florida and North Carolina to make it easier for residents to vote.
Over 77% of gas stations in Tampa without fuel
Over 77% of gas stations in Tampa are without fuel as of 1:32 p.m. ET today, according to gas tracking site GasBuddy.
Hurricane Milton has led to shortages across Florida. In Sarasota, over 62% of stations are running dry. Fort Myers and Naples are facing shortages as well, with over 42% of stations lacking fuel, GasBuddy reported.
Statewide, GasBuddy says almost 30% of gas stations are without fuel.
The shortage has led to reports of disputes at gas stations in Pisco County, just north of the Tampa Bay region.
"We realize demand is great and frustration can be high while the fuel companies work through restocking essential supplies, but we urge you to be patient and respectful of others," the Pisco County Sheriff's office said on Facebook.
Biden continues to denounce ‘disgusting’ spread of misinformation about storm response
During a briefing on recovery efforts after Hurricane Milton, President Biden continued to speak out against the “disgusting” and “dangerous” misinformation being spread about the federal government’s response to recent hurricanes.
Hillsborough County 'hasn't seen the worst of it yet' with flooding, Alafia river still rising
Major flooding is continuing to increase in Hillsborough County in Hurricane Milton's wake, officials said today.
The National Weather Service issued flood warnings for some areas throughout the county, and residents are being advised to take extreme precautions as the Alafia River is expected to rise even further today, the release said.
"They’re not used to this amount of flooding in such a short period of time," said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in a press conference. "There’s cars underwater. Some homes are completely underwater."
Chronister added that they "haven't seen the worst of it yet," as the Alafia has not yet crested.
Video captures moment 8 people were rescued from a flooded house
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office posted video today of their team rescuing a Florida family in Dover, a community about 20 miles east of Tampa. The office says eight people were evacuated from a house flooded by 6 feet of water.
Stray animals stranded by Hurricane Milton rescued
“Wings of Rescue” transports stray animals to safety. The charity’s CEO Ric Browde joins José Díaz-Balart to share more about their efforts to find these furry friends a forever home after Hurricane Milton left many stranded in Florida.
Biden to travel to Florida on Sunday
President Joe Biden will travel to Florida to visit areas impacted by Hurricane Milton on Sunday, the White House announced today.