Special report: Hurricane Milton tears across Florida

Hours after Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, residents in Florida are now assessing the damage just weeks after Hurricane Helene struck many of the same areas. NBC News' Tom Llamas and Dylan Dreyer report from Florida and Al Roker gives the latest on the storm's path.
» Subscribe to NBC News: nbcnews.to/Subs...
» Watch more NBC video: bit.ly/MoreNBCNews
NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and engaging news stories. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.
Connect with NBC News Online!
NBC News App: apps.nbcnews.c...
Breaking News Alerts: link.nbcnews.c...
Visit NBCNews.Com: nbcnews.to/ReadNBC
Find NBC News on Facebook: nbcnews.to/LikeNBC
Follow NBC News on Twitter: nbcnews.to/Foll...
Follow NBC News on Instagram: nbcnews.to/Inst...
#HurricaneMilton #Florida #BreakingNews

[@forhislove1314]

Prayers to everyone who lost a loved one and those who lost everything 😢

[@YouareasheepX]

What do internet prayers do?

[@marshacherubin9094]

@@YouareasheepX this is ignorant. The prayer of the righteous availeth much. You can be in Timbuktu or the North Pole and pray for anyone or anything in the world!

[@MahmoudWaz]

I was in tears all day yesterday. 😢

[@YouareasheepX]

@@marshacherubin9094 cool, what were people doing 6000 years ago before religion? They chose to stay, not leave, and live there. Internet Jesus isn't spreading prayers.

[@Ladybug099]

​@@marshacherubin9094🙏 Amen!

[@Tinkerbell888]

I left my home when I fled warzone, then I lost another one when I had cancer. To many this is just momentary news, but to those affected it's their lives forever changed. Prayers for people and animals. 😢

[@pianoreigns]

It hurts so much to lose everything you hold dear. My kids and I have lived it too.

[@puertocool]

What happened to all the talk of storm surge? Shows predictions are far off and sensational.

[@in-x-orable2769]

@@Tinkerbell888 why doesn’t your government help with rebuilding?

[@Matt-fl8uy]

OP - Respectfully, this isn't about you.

[@Matt-fl8uy]

@@in-x-orable2769 Why should they?

[@blinkspacestudio8892]

If you stand in the middle of a street during a hurricane you are going to get thrown around. Please lead by example and report a storm from a safer place. There is no need to be exposed like that.

[@kevindahlenburg2528]

Ratings

[@Caprisassy]

Agree

[@pgmpgm5222]

I’ll be going there t morrow as part of a rescue.Please keep us in your prayers

[@kevindahlenburg2528]

Thank you for helping! Stay safe. Prayers to you all

[@misfit_raven4367]

you're a legend, good luck

[@GDaCreator1]

I'm from Jacksonville, FL and I haven't left my home for a hurricane in over 40 years. We've been blessed..... I pray for those who have been impacted 🙏🏼

[@Matt-fl8uy]

I bet there has been at least a few times where you should have. Hunkering down isn't always the best call and you know it.

[@realestatecoach8626]

I am in Jax Fl too and we left 3x and came back to normal conditions and now we decided to stay home. Thank God we’re good! Praying for others however.

[@delilah8476]

My aunt, uncle, and 90 year old grandma are in Jacksonville. I am so worried about them, in the past my cousin has had to guard the house from robbers when this happens, but he is no longer there with them. Hope you all make it through this ok.

[@SineNomine-bt6ir]

32207 here - Jacksonville is the best and blessed.

[@piroskamuller-middelhof3333]

Concrete! Watch the videos and see the difference between damages of concrete buildings and wooden structures! Cables should be underneath the earth. Isn't it time the US starts building tornado & hurricane proof?

[@Mia-pr9cd]

You can barely even call these wooden structures

[@jvs5311]

I made sure when I moved to Florida to buy a concrete block home. Milton went directly over me and my house was solid. I watched new builds go up a few blocks down and they are two story stick builds and they went up so fast I wondered how solid they really were. Yikes. Back in Iowa I nearly purchased a ranch style home with a full basement full concrete home. They aren’t very common but they are pretty neat.

[@d.b.cooper1]

lol please, the country's key infrasturuce is literally crumbling. we only have money for foreign wars be it ukraine or $18bn this year to Israel. we are so far removed from making actual long term investments, all we do is paint over the cracks & wait for something to collapse & go viral on news as that's only way congress approves anything that isn't for war

[@pete1342]

It's about time they quit rebuilding anything in Florida. The Indians knew 400 years ago that you couldn't build permanent structures there.

[@terriberry1721]

Then land grabs would be harder.

[@iam_tam22]

I got stuck in Georgia from a weekend trip I stay 13 min from the buccs stadium . I can’t even imagine me being home alone stuck in a cat 4 hurricane! Wow I pray all is safe

[@CC-cc3wc]

Praying! Hows the situation there in Georgia? My son is in Columbus.

[@iam_tam22]

@@CC-cc3wc I’m here In lake Lanier it was a very peaceful night ! Didn’t hear a thing . I’m so glad to be at my parents house … I pray my apartment is still there or not as flooded !

[@x7035]

I literally live south tpa. When it hit, it was only a cat 2/3

[@keithn9253]

I stay right by Busch Gardens but we went to Albany, GA

[@ThatFunnyPlace]

My dad lives in the area. Said around 35 known deaths. 18 tornadoes. And oddly. He said it hasn't rained since the storm hit

[@tarheel4wd]

There's nothing normal about these storms

[@lachikisfashion]

This is true. It's been sunny but cloudy since sunrise and I'm in Riverview.

[@sjohnson65456]

@@lachikisfashion where should rain come from on a clear radar? 🤣🥴

[@sjohnson65456]

@@tarheel4wd stop ignoring climate change instead of believing literal conspiracies. Glad I wasn't born with your brain if you have one that is.

[@tigerprincess11]

@@sjohnson65456🙄

[@franciscobaerga4804]

This is one of the most stupidity we are seen now. Reporters under very bad & dangerous circumstances just to let people know how bad is when it can be done from a safe place that they don’t have to be exposed.

[@dianarichardson3316]

Agreed

[@christinevandenberg8]

Prayers to all of you and the animals! From the Bigbend 🙏🤍🕊

[@Carolina_Panthers145]

Praying for Florida ❤️🙏🏼

[@stephenhathaway269]

Virtue signalling and platitudes are a waste of KZbin comment space

[@kathrynnard8059]

My family near Melbourne still have power and are safe. Thank you Lord. Be with the others as they go through the day.

[@MrBibi86]

God did nothing

[@d.b.cooper1]

Clearly god loves your family and hates others then

[@Frieddog717]

@@d.b.cooper1But I love your mom ... what’s your point? 🤡

[@jennyvone]

Praying for everyone dealing with this loss! 😢

[@DANNY91794]

Prayers for everyone involved

[@guybeingaguy]

Doesn’t count! You MUST include the thingy 🙏 Try again.

[@MrBibi86]

Prayers won't do anything to help!

[@Alejandro-e7g]

SCINTILLAM DEI CRUSHED ATHEIST MYTHS. ​@@MrBibi86

[@robin031603]

​@MrBibi86 actually prayers are the reason this man made storm didn't hit as a cat 5. Thankful Yahweh, the God of Heaven, hears our prayers!!

[@agent8playz889]

@@robin031603if god can slow down a hurricane why didn’t he make it a tropical storm or does he just hate Florida

[@Dawn-g3q]

Our prayers are with Florida ❤from South Africa

[@BobB-k5e]

Your prayers havent done a fking thing for the people who we were killed!!!

[@andyroubik5760]

South Africa is a most beautiful country! Thanks for your concerns

[@marshacherubin9094]

@@BobB-k5e why didn’t you keyboard bully any of the other commentators who sent prayers? Your response is despicable! Some didn’t heed the warnings!

[@EmmyPierz-ek7hi]

@@BobB-k5ethis was their predestined time to depart this life… read a (THE) BOOK, why don’t YOU???? 😳😬😠

[@pribilovian4709]

​@BobB-k5e I'm sure your comment helped more than our prayers.

[@forhislove1314]

The fact they are there is insane

[@lizacbuzzylizzy]

I appreciate your diligence in reporting. One thing that stood out from his report was "reporting from a concrete structure." Why do we not build all structures from concrete?

[@ericharris893]

The concrete will deteriorate. concrete changes back to rocks and silt and is expensive to demolish.

[@in-x-orable2769]

Why do Americans build homes with cardboard paper?

[@annjean8709]

To make money every year.

[@baramuth71]

@@annjean8709 To rip off residents with cheaply built scrap and expensively sold scrap

[@NovaPrincess]

Why do non Americans care about America so much instead of fixing their own poor, shambolic country?

[@karlolsson6505]

Awe so sorry for those people. God Bless them.

[@annetteannette3808]

I believe you should not risk the life of the reporters to bring the news of the moment.

[@memoe6172]

Bless everyone who’s affected 😢❤

[@taranvainas]

I don't think there is a single European who understands why houses in places so exposed to hurricanes and tornadoes are still built with planks and cardboard. My best wishes from Spain.

[@joeybleu66]

why do humans build houses in the mississippi flood plain. they did that twice because the gummint payed fer it.

[@FRANK45CASTLE]

People are willing to sacrifice they're home so they can live in nice weather I guess. Also a cheap house is easier to replace than a bunker. That's the only way i could think of a reason honestly.

[@harrietcarter3307]

@@joeybleu66- gummint??? English please.

[@Iposttherforeiam]

Historically, Florida is known as an inexpensive place to retire. Part of what makes it inexpensive is a lack of regulation on building standards. Very few people would be able to afford a Florida home built to withstand a strong hurricane.

[@wysiwyg88888]

I agree! FL needs to reevaluate their building requirements for everything since now it's becoming tornado central.

[@MrGriff305-j7s]

3 million "customers" have no power... not "people" That's more like 6 million people.

[@YouareasheepX]

We are not people. Just figures.

[@mindofericer]

​@YouareasheepX you sure youre not a sheep? 😂

[@milesb2111]

How can the power company comment on how many "people" lost power. They only have records on who pays for power. I swear people look for something to be angry about.

[@mikemorgan8588]

A account number doesn’t equate to the number of occupants. How callous and lazy is reporting becoming?

[@johnsonspark171]

in capitalism there are no "people", just customers to take advantage of

[@teresawetherby9440]

Prayers for you all!!❤

[@larrymosher5045]

Prayers for Florida and all the utility workers trying to get everyone's power back on.Stay safe and rebuild.

[@MrBibi86]

Prayers won't do anything to help!

[@harrietcarter3307]

@@MrBibi86- Exactly!

[@EmmyPierz-ek7hi]

MrBibb You know how to FIB

[@YayA-ts7sb]

Not with that attitude 😂

[@EmmyPierz-ek7hi]

@@harrietcarter3307harrietcarter… with YOUR soul, you will barter😳😳😢

[@goshen7334]

8:56 not everyone can leave. Some peopke are elderly with no family or too poor

[@Susan-dl4ql]

😢 🙏🫂

[@christinehutchins123]

I think they had shelters for those who couldn't leave. I imagine they might have transportation for elderly or without means to get there. Or maybe call cab or uber...earlier on anyway. Cab not coming through hurricane obviously but I think they were arranging rides for those who had no other way.

[@QuitoCat]

I'll never understand why houses in the path of these hurricanes are made from cheap flimsy materials, do they never learn from past hurricanes? Build your homes with concrete. Condolences to those who lost their lives, very sad 💔

[@annjean8709]

Profits! 💰 🤑 📈

[@baramuth71]

@@annjean8709 Some call it profit, others exploitation

[@jonw999999]

Everything in Florida is about cheap and abundant. It's a cultural thing, just like Floridians are the worst drivers in the developed world.

[@1NightInParisOfficial]

its beautiful to see how small we are in comparison to our home. Here, no spirituality, beliefs or egos can transcend. Everything we think we are, becomes nothing in the face of death and the Universe. Oh how confident we seem, but how vulnerable we are...

[@scottleatherman163]

Standing out in the storm risking your life ! For ratings? Ridiculous! Who makes these decisions? There are plenty of outside cameras that can be viewed from a safe area.

[@MadCatLady28]

Agreed. It's ridiculous.

[@fc4660]

Absolutely

[@kendallevans4079]

That's the media for ya! CNN had Anderson Cooper outside getting drenched when he didn't have to....all for ratings!

[@d.b.cooper1]

It really isn't that dangerous, there were loads of hurricane chasers last night driving through the streets, looked totally normal like a run of the mil storm for the most part. Even had locals walking around the water front during the peak

[@scottleatherman163]

@@d.b.cooper1 Yea there called “ idiots “

[@DamchingShira-dd2cr]

Pray for peace of Florida

[@LeeLatoyaAlleyne-e6q]

Can’t get in contact with my mom 😞😞😞

[@lovelyrose8936]

🙏🏽

[@chrisrutledge5294]

🙏🙏

[@annjean8709]

She is safe, covered, and protected by his stripes! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@tanishapls]

Aww..I pray she's safe & you hear from her soon 🙏🏼

[@lynnmckenna9934]

We don’t need to watch reporters standing in bad weather. Stupid. Unnecessary.

[@annjean8709]

Exactly!

[@vlad1889]

Maybe we should build houses rated for wind and rain? Hotels had no issues. We pay 500k for cardboards 😅

[@tt5177]

That's why houses should be built of concrete, not stupid sidings and sheet rock jeez

[@updateapril]

Brick concrete homes fell into the rivers with Helene. Mother nature will take out man made anything.

[@AlienAI2024]

I pray for all my friends in florida all people everyone . Pray for them guys❤❤❤

[@MrBibi86]

Prayers won't do anything to help!

[@jjoyjohnson72]

@@MrBibi86 One thing is sure--they will help you when you cannot help them! The other side of it, it's your choice to believe or not, but science proves prayer does work on a quantum level.

[@agent8playz889]

@@jjoyjohnson72proof?

[@gerardmachado3728]

Doing donuts in the eye of a hurricane, epic

[@Nymeria0]

Florida man….

[@bryanrousseau4879]

​@@Nymeria0 ur username is hilarious cuz that's the name of one of my closest buddies dogs and its tiny dotson 😂

[@CD-il5xh]

ridiculous that these news stations send reporters out into the storm- they look ridiculous trying to stand up in the extreme windy conditions. I think there are enough webcams around

[@SweetDreams-wt7vo]

Thoughts and prayers for all those affected by hurricane Milton. Love from the West Coast of Ireland.

[@sedwards7428]

News should always mention pets and animals -- to bring in all pets before the storm. To watch out for animals / birds

[@Gcoop630]

What’s the difference from them out doing donuts and your group out in the open recording footage ? Sounds reckless as well.

[@foamyflightmaster9385]

NBC is the best

[@kaspermikulski9591]

houses from paper= damages. You dont need huriccane.

[@jovaneron]

If they only have concrete houses with high elevation

[@45kellygreen]

Luckily the storm surge was pretty small.

[@AmandaB.6529]

My friend was in the same bunker with that news reporter and she was live on TT he is so lovely Please stay safe Tom 🙏🏻❤

[@dreadfuldonkey]

It was ok for media to be there but everyone else need to evacuate

[@James-y8n5k]

Praying for those in Florida

[@BobB-k5e]

You obviously didnt pray for those who were killed!

[@kennyrichard2971]

I can remember way back when news media broadcast the news the way it is without adding drama just for ratings

[@LuciaChaurand]

This is so sad because some tears have been across at Florida after a Category 3 makes a landfall by Hurricane Milton last night on Wednesday. 😥 🙏

[@joycegullett80]

God bless and protect everyone

[@Hulahoopish]

I think Tom’s shift should be over for this one. He looks exhausted.

[@ANTHONY.J-TT]

Sorry for the ones who lost their lives due to hurricane Milton, at the same time persons needs to understand when you need to leave, just leave....you'll always come back to do what needs to be done😭😭😭😭

[@purplepixie274]

Or move to a safer place to live

[@CT-ig2oz]

Praying to everyone,

[@cjbarlow61]

Doing donuts in the eye of a hurricane seems like a bucket list item was checked off

[@dalleger]

Why does every news outlet insist on putting the reporters’ lives in danger? I’ve never understood this.

[@Selina15687]

From the carribbean our prayers are with you all,grateful to those who risk their lives to allow us to see and know what's happening ,God bless you all

[@theeaskey]

Another media storm.

[@brandonmckinnon4582]

Least the media outlets are making money off this.

[@SkepticalChris]

I remember them broadcasting during the eerie calm of the eye, there were some cars that took to the streets and practically started drag racing because they know there are no cops, wondering what happened to them once the winds started up because it wouldn't be pretty

[@GeminiGlass]

Umm, how is power still remaining on all these buildings?

[@binyamgebremedhin8623]

may god mercy up on you 🙏

[@BobB-k5e]

He didnt have mercy on any of the people who were fking killed now did he?

[@keithevans2108]

Stuck in Orlando.

[@keithevans2108]

$keithevans34 a little help.

[@brandyheartqueen9326]

Why you stuck in Orlando I got to get to Orlando I got Stuck in Miami. Is it bad there

[@keithevans2108]

@@brandyheartqueen9326 I stay.

[@maggotman2024]

One would expect news people who have been in these storms before would take less risks to add “drama” to their reporting. Even some children know the dangers of being out in the eye of a hurricane.

[@WWEWithGrandma]

I pray for everyone who has been impacted by this that they recover 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 be strong ppl!

[@marimar5279]

Yet the US still builds houses made of cardboard

[@TonyMidyett]

Living in a swamp on the edge of an ocean is completely illogical.

[@rod1147]

I didn't know there was tornadoes in Florida

[@mscturner9290]

Prayers for the Floridians

[@elpiton7395]

Prayers for my brother that’s coming from California to help with the electricity in Florida

[@Nomumbler]

I still don't understand why if its so dangerous they have to be out there filming the news with so much technology nowadays they can use without placing them in danger 🤦‍♀️

[@WilliamFoley-t4c]

Now all the media focus is on Milton and not on Helene survivors?

[@dayangmarikit6860]

Helene hit basically the same area.

[@christinehutchins123]

While the storm has just finished up, yes. Its the latest storm. They will be reporting on all areas in coming days. That's how they do it. What's the problem?

[@EmmyPierz-ek7hi]

2:00 WHY do folks risk their lives to have their 5 minutes of “fame “… (????) 😳😬😠😢

[@fatmiumiu3286]

Praying for Florida!!!!

[@guybeingaguy]

I’m in Fort Lauderdale. I had my trash can tipped over. I will rebuild!

[@bschulz1988]

I was gonna say, from everything I saw this just looks like a solid thunderstorm. Besides the tornadoes the hurricane isn’t really doing much

[@rmusic8969]

​@@bschulz1988I'm sure the flooding caused serious damage to homes

[@bschulz1988]

@@rmusic8969 for sure but for this to be the strongest hurricane to hit the gulf coast in 100 years was drastic over reaction. “If you stay in an evacuation zone you will die.” This fear mongering and over exaggeration is exactly why people will ignore the next one.

[@dianarichardson3316]

Everyone stay inside!!! -- goes outside to show us how bad and dangerous it is !! All for ratings

[@noellejanee2088]

Why are news media crews taking up precious space that residents of these places desperately need? I am not anti-mainstream media but that hit me as an inappropriate use of space.

[@blackheart40]

Praying for everyone!

[@dogpatchfab]

These comments show why America is doomed. Your fellow people have went through a major disaster and all yall do is make it Political, complain about the reporters or act like construction know it alls.. smdh.

[@iRiShNFT]

I appreciate NBC calling the police chief and wasting their time while they are super busy ... Really shows your intelligence and empathy for people in need. I'm 100% sure she had Nothing better to do with her time right now than to answer your stupid questions that you literally already knew the answers to. Good Job

[@violetsun2343]

We had trees topple on all the RVs in my neighborhood there are trucks underwater the whole neighborhood is flooded out. This feels like the apocalypse.

[@matthewlepak2878]

Prayers

[@MrBibi86]

Prayers won't do anything to help!

[@EmmyPierz-ek7hi]

@@MrBibi86either will YOU, FOO!

[@dmill96]

​@EmmyPierz-ek7hi boy you sure showed him

[@Fattyb00batty]

Reporters are another breed

[@joyjordan8882]

Disappointed that news journalists aren't getting details correct. CEDAR Key is a real Florida location but not near the eye of this storm, which made landfall at SIESTA Key I believe (133 miles South of Cedar Key). Also earlier in the night couldn't pronounce the name of the river rising in Ft Myers...after three tries couldn't say/remember Caloosahatchee. (Many rivers have the native term for river "hatchee"..and this one is named for the Caloosa peop!e who inhabited SW Florida in the 16th &17th centuries.)

[@Valeriagaming22]

May everybody who lives here stays safe! I already sent prayers may god protect you!

[@WalterThayer-r7n]

That what happens when u build on wet land

[@jerrynelson4500]

Mm this people are hard headed they told them staying is at their own risk.

[@CarterWhitmore]

R.i.p to everybody that has lost their lives

[@CampingGuy]

If you're staying in Florida during Milton hurricane, u better have a boat in your house because you'll be facing floods, no electricity and hard rain and wind

[@Giannaalva-u8q]

I'm pretty sure the eye came right thru my house. Hope everyone is safe!

[@keithevans2108]

We have no power.

[@2KGrind09]

Florida should have known better than to build that stadium with that type of material.

[@jrzy49]

The lights around my vacation home just turned back on

[@babukhanpathan8260]

It shows how cheap our construction is... cheap houses high prices

[@yvettemarie9236]

The weather reporters really don’t need to be outside during the storm report the aftermath and be safe.

[@HowTooLiv]

Geez I cant believe this

[@HurricaneIrene07]

No need to dramatize. It wasn't as bad as the news predicted. Say that please.

[@westmcgee9320]

Their tendency to repeatedly refer to affected areas simply as “Florida” leads people in other states to believe the whole state was at great risk. The risk was to some areas of central Florida.

[@VictoriaVelasco-y5x]

They were warned in advance to evacuate.why they didnt?

[@andrewfrazer8874]

IT doesn't take much after Helene they are still recovering from and know Milton extremely busy picking up the catastrophic mess left behind.

[@LT_Fates4228]

Record breaking 30+ tornados omg

[@patrickkarow9527]

Do you know how stupid yall look standing out in the wind like people don't know its windy during a hurricane . Great acting weather guys