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Hurricane Milton hurled rain, tornadoes and tropical storm-force winds at the U.S. coast Wednesday as time began to run out for residents to evacuate from the potentially catastrophic path the storm was carving toward Florida.

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A person walks through a flooded street from the rising Anclote River as Florida tries to recover from Hurricane Milton on Oct. 11, 2024 in New Port Richey, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, causing extensive flooding and damage throughout Florida's Gulf Coast. (Spencer Platt/Getty)
A person walks through a flooded street from the rising Anclote River as Florida tries to recover from Hurricane Milton on Oct. 11, 2024 in New Port Richey, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, causing extensive flooding and damage throughout Florida's Gulf Coast. (Spencer Platt/Getty)
Melissa Vazquez looks at a building covered in beach sand at the Seafarer Beach Resort after Hurricane Milton passed through the area on Oct. 11, 2024, in Manasota, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
Melissa Vazquez looks at a building covered in beach sand at the Seafarer Beach Resort after Hurricane Milton passed through the area on Oct. 11, 2024, in Manasota, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
A USPS worker inspects trucks that had been relocated to protect them from wind but which are now underwater as intense rain from Hurricane Milton caused the Anclote River to flood on Oct. 11, 2024, in New Port Richey, Florida. (Mike Carlson/AP)
A USPS worker inspects trucks that had been relocated to protect them from wind but which are now underwater as intense rain from Hurricane Milton caused the Anclote River to flood on Oct. 11, 2024, in New Port Richey, Florida. (Mike Carlson/AP)
Displaced sand almost bury a table and chair following the passage of Hurricane Milton, in a condo at YCA Vacation Rentals in Venice, Florida on Oct. 11, 2024. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Displaced sand almost bury a table and chair following the passage of Hurricane Milton, in a condo at YCA Vacation Rentals in Venice, Florida on Oct. 11, 2024. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Damage from both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in Bradenton, Florida, on Oct. 11, 2024. (Callaghan O'Hare/The New York Times)
Damage from both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in Bradenton, Florida, on Oct. 11, 2024. (Callaghan O’Hare/The New York Times)
Public work employees remove sand from the roadways, that was pushed to the streets by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 11, 2024, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. (Marta Lavandier/AP)
Public work employees remove sand from the roadways, that was pushed to the streets by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 11, 2024, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. (Marta Lavandier/AP)
Waters rise in Pasco County neighborhoods as intense rain from Hurricane Milton caused the Anclote River to flood, Oct. 11, 2024, in New Port Richey, Florida. (Mike Carlson/AP)
Waters rise in Pasco County neighborhoods as intense rain from Hurricane Milton caused the Anclote River to flood, Oct. 11, 2024, in New Port Richey, Florida. (Mike Carlson/AP)
Members of The Farmer's Friend rescue a pig from floodwaters caused by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 11, 2024, in Lithia, Florida. (Chris O'Meara/AP)
Members of The Farmer's Friend rescue a pig from floodwaters caused by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 11, 2024, in Lithia, Florida. (Chris O'Meara/AP)
A swimming pool's handrails are seen after it was filled with beach sand at the Seafarer Beach Resort as Hurricane Milton passed through the area on Oct. 11, 2024, in Manasota, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
A swimming pool's handrails are seen after it was filled with beach sand at the Seafarer Beach Resort as Hurricane Milton passed through the area on Oct. 11, 2024, in Manasota, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
The roof of the Tropicana Field is damaged the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
The roof of the Tropicana Field is damaged the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Donna Clark hugs her neighbor Mary Miller after being rescued from Hurricane Milton floodwaters by Lakeland Police Department at the Buccaneer Bay mobile home park, in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Rescuers pulled scores of people from flooded or damaged buildings and vehicles on Thursday after Hurricane Milton tore across Florida overnight, ripping the roof off Tropicana Field, slamming a tower crane into a building in St. Petersburg and knocking out power to about a third of the state. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
Donna Clark hugs her neighbor Mary Miller after being rescued from Hurricane Milton floodwaters by Lakeland Police Department at the Buccaneer Bay mobile home park, in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Rescuers pulled scores of people from flooded or damaged buildings and vehicles on Thursday after Hurricane Milton tore across Florida overnight, ripping the roof off Tropicana Field, slamming a tower crane into a building in St. Petersburg and knocking out power to about a third of the state. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
Lakeland Police Department dive team personnel wade through floodwaters in the Buccaneer Bay mobile home park after Hurricane Milton passed over Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. More than 3.2 million customers were without power in Florida on Thursday afternoon, but efforts to get people to follow evacuation orders and warnings appear to have worked. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
Lakeland Police Department dive team personnel wade through floodwaters in the Buccaneer Bay mobile home park after Hurricane Milton passed over Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. More than 3.2 million customers were without power in Florida on Thursday afternoon, but efforts to get people to follow evacuation orders and warnings appear to have worked. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
Natasha Ducre surveys the kitchen of her devastated home, which lost most of its roof during the passage of Hurricane Milton, in Palmetto, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Ducre, her husband, three children and two grandkids, rode out the storm in a government shelter and returned to find their home unlivable and much of their furniture and belongings destroyed by rainwater. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Natasha Ducre surveys the kitchen of her devastated home, which lost most of its roof during the passage of Hurricane Milton, in Palmetto, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Ducre, her husband, three children and two grandkids, rode out the storm in a government shelter and returned to find their home unlivable and much of their furniture and belongings destroyed by rainwater. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
A resident in a tie-dye top wades through floodwaters in the Buccaneer Bay mobile home park after Hurricane Milton passed over Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. More than 3.2 million customers were without power in Florida on Thursday afternoon, but efforts to get people to follow evacuation orders and warnings appear to have worked. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
A resident in a tie-dye top wades through floodwaters in the Buccaneer Bay mobile home park after Hurricane Milton passed over Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. More than 3.2 million customers were without power in Florida on Thursday afternoon, but efforts to get people to follow evacuation orders and warnings appear to have worked. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
A woman walks along a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024 in Osprey, Florida. The hurricane made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
A woman walks along a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024 in Osprey, Florida. The hurricane made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
A building sits open after losing its front side in the Palmetto Beach neighborhood after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times)
A building sits open after losing its front side in the Palmetto Beach neighborhood after Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times)
Mailboxes along a street inundated by floodwaters near the Little Econlockhatchee River in Orlando on Thursday morning, Oct. 10, 2024. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
Mailboxes along a street inundated by floodwaters near the Little Econlockhatchee River in Orlando on Thursday morning, Oct. 10, 2024. (Nicole Craine/The New York Times)
A construction crane fell over into an office building that houses the Tampa Bay Times headquarters, after Hurricane Milton, Oct. 10, 2024. (Tampa Bay Times)
A construction crane fell over into an office building that houses the Tampa Bay Times headquarters, after Hurricane Milton, Oct. 10, 2024. (Tampa Bay Times)
A boat is washed ashore from Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Punta Gorda, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
A boat is washed ashore from Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Punta Gorda, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
High water is on Hillsborough street in the aftermath of hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Stewart/AP)
High water is on Hillsborough street in the aftermath of hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Stewart/AP)
A drone image of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, shows the shredded roof of the dome and the cots on the field, set up for first responders, among the debris on Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times)
A drone image of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, shows the shredded roof of the dome and the cots on the field, set up for first responders, among the debris on Oct. 10, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times)
A man leaves his vehicle to assess flooding on a street the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Oct. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Florida.(Julio Cortez/AP)
A man leaves his vehicle to assess flooding on a street the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the region, Oct. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Florida.(Julio Cortez/AP)
The Ponce De Leon Hotel sign fell to the ground after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Oct. 10, 2024, in St Petersburg. (Lauren Peace/Tampa Bay Times)
The Ponce De Leon Hotel sign fell to the ground after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Oct. 10, 2024, in St Petersburg. (Lauren Peace/Tampa Bay Times)
Flood waters inundate a neighborhood after Hurricane Milton came ashore on Oct. 10, 2024, in Punta Gorda, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
Flood waters inundate a neighborhood after Hurricane Milton came ashore on Oct. 10, 2024, in Punta Gorda, Florida. The storm made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in the Siesta Key area of Florida, causing damage and flooding throughout Central Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
Joe Lindquist, 32, of St. Petersburg, walks over bricks near a fallen crane along 1st Avenue South near the Tampa Bay Times offices in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Oct. 10, 2024, as Hurricane Milton's strong winds tore through the area. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times)
Joe Lindquist, 32, of St. Petersburg, walks over bricks near a fallen crane along 1st Avenue South near the Tampa Bay Times offices in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Oct. 10, 2024, as Hurricane Milton's strong winds tore through the area. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times)
Debris along Commonwealth Drive clogs the roadway after Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 10, 2024, in Siesta Key, Florida. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times)
Debris along Commonwealth Drive clogs the roadway after Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 10, 2024, in Siesta Key, Florida. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times)
An aerial view shows Tropicana Field's shredded roof in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, in the wake of Hurricane Milton early Thursday morning, Oct. 10, 2024. (Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times)
An aerial view shows Tropicana Field's shredded roof in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, in the wake of Hurricane Milton early Thursday morning, Oct. 10, 2024. (Max Chesnes/Tampa Bay Times)
Chris Williams runs through a rainstorm as he packs his car to evacuate his apartment before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
Chris Williams runs through a rainstorm as he packs his car to evacuate his apartment before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty)
A car drives past a pile of debris from Hurricane Helene flooding, along a street that had already begun flooding from rain ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Gulfport, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
A car drives past a pile of debris from Hurricane Helene flooding, along a street that had already begun flooding from rain ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton, in Gulfport, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
People board up a convenience store ahead of Hurricane Milton, Oct. 9, 2024, in Brandon, Fla. (Mike Stewart/AP)
People board up a convenience store ahead of Hurricane Milton, Oct. 9, 2024, in Brandon, Fla. (Mike Stewart/AP)
Robert Haight salvages what he can from his home after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. He said he had just had the roof replaced two years after Hurricane Ian had damaged it. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Robert Haight salvages what he can from his home after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. He said he had just had the roof replaced two years after Hurricane Ian had damaged it. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Salvador Gonzalez places plywood over the windows of a business before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Salvador Gonzalez places plywood over the windows of a business before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Logan Smith takes his dog Zak through some of the 283 registered pets in the evacuation shelter at River Ridge Middle/High School in preparation for Hurricane Milton on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New Port Richey, Fla. (Mike Carlson/AP)
Logan Smith takes his dog Zak through some of the 283 registered pets in the evacuation shelter at River Ridge Middle/High School in preparation for Hurricane Milton on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in New Port Richey, Fla. (Mike Carlson/AP)
People get groceries in preparation for Hurricane Milton in Cape Coral, Fla., on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. With time and options running out on Wednesday, some Florida residents who had not yet evacuated ahead of Hurricane Milton addressed a consequential question at the last minute: Stay or go? (Paul Ratje/The New York Times)
People get groceries in preparation for Hurricane Milton in Cape Coral, Fla., on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. With time and options running out on Wednesday, some Florida residents who had not yet evacuated ahead of Hurricane Milton addressed a consequential question at the last minute: Stay or go? (Paul Ratje/The New York Times)
Ron Rook, who said he was looking for people in need of help or debris to clear, walks through windy and rainy conditions on a deserted street in downtown Tampa, Fla., during the approach of Hurricane Milton, Oct. 9, 2024. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Ron Rook, who said he was looking for people in need of help or debris to clear, walks through windy and rainy conditions on a deserted street in downtown Tampa, Fla., during the approach of Hurricane Milton, Oct. 9, 2024. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Connor Ferran, left, and his neighbor Leroy Roker survey what is left after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off of Ferran's home before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. He said he had just had the roof replaced two years after Hurricane Ian had damaged it. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Connor Ferran, left, and his neighbor Leroy Roker survey what is left after what appeared to be a tornado tore the roof off of Ferran's home before Hurricane Milton's arrival on Oct. 9, 2024, in Fort Myers, Florida. He said he had just had the roof replaced two years after Hurricane Ian had damaged it. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Christian Burke stands at the door of his home, where he, his mother, and his aunt plan to ride out Hurricane Milton on the third floor overlooking overlooking Tampa Bay, in Gulfport, Fla., on Oct. 9, 2024. Burke, who said his engineer father built the concrete home to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, expects his raised ground floor to get up to 8 feet of water in Milton. A boat deposited by Hurricane Helene sits lodged in the bay front park outside his front door. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Christian Burke stands at the door of his home, where he, his mother and his aunt planned to ride out Hurricane Milton on the third floor overlooking Tampa Bay in Gulfport, Florida, on Oct. 9, 2024. Burke, who said his engineer father built the concrete home to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, expects his raised ground floor to get up to 8 feet of water. A boat deposited by Hurricane Helene sits lodged in the bay front park outside his front door. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
A man holds his umbrella in downtown Orlando, Florida, on Oct. 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. Florida residents fled or just hunkered down in the final hours Oct. 9, 2024 before Milton pummels the state. (Giorgio Viera/Getty-AFP)
A man holds his umbrella in downtown Orlando, Florida, on Oct. 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. Florida residents fled or just hunkered down in the final hours Oct. 9, 2024 before Milton pummels the state. (Giorgio Viera/Getty-AFP)
Oscar Garcia, right, with his family stands outside his house after getting hit by a reported tornado in Fort Myers, Florida, on Oct. 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. (Chandan Khanna/Getty-AFP)
Oscar Garcia, right, with his family stands outside his house after getting hit by a reported tornado in Fort Myers, Florida, on Oct. 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. (Chandan Khanna/Getty-AFP)
Samantha Dubberly consoles her daughter Alexa Haight as medics takes her grandfather into care after he got injured by a reported tornado that hit his house in Fort Myers, Florida on Oct. 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. (Chandan Khanna/Getty-AFP)
Samantha Dubberly consoles her daughter Alexa Haight as medics takes her grandfather into care after he got injured by a reported tornado that hit his house in Fort Myers, Florida on Oct. 9, 2024, as Hurricane Milton approaches. (Chandan Khanna/Getty-AFP)