The death toll from Hurricane Milton rises after the tornado hits St. Lucie County

Crystal Coleman sits outside the remains of her home in St. Lucie County, Florida, and wonders where she and her daughter will sleep.

One of at least a dozen hurricanes spawned by Hurricane Milton tore through this low-income south Florida community, killing at least five residents. At least 16 people are known to have died across the US.

Crystal is happy to be alive but confused about what to do next.

“All of a sudden my basement door flew open, everything in my house started flying,” Ms Coleman told BBC News on Thursday.

“It was very painful, we were very scared. It was as if a tornado was inside our house.”

The area where he lives is one of many in the state that were devastated by Milton as it tore through the entire state, leaving widespread damage and millions without power.

The storms began as Milton approached the state Wednesday evening, an event forecasters say sometimes follows tropical storms.

Parts of Crystal’s roof were torn off, and windows were blown out. Heading down the street Thursday, the nonprofit’s workers were delivering hundreds of hot meals. The electricity is out and there is no running water. People are grateful for a hot meal, a smile, and a helping hand.

The damage is all over the highway. Tractor trailer on its side. The canopy took off the gas station. Trees have been uprooted. Some residents say they have contacted the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) for help, but for now, they are more concerned about shelter and food for their families tonight.

Milton’s tragic path is being watched by workers across the country, who are warning that the death toll could continue to rise in the coming days.

The storm brought heavy rains of up to 18in (45cm) in some areas. Neighborhoods and roads remain flooded, businesses, homes and fields destroyed by the winds – but Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state had not experienced “the worst-case scenario”.

Many have escaped, including about 80,000 people staying in shelters overnight, he said.

“My sense is that a lot of people are gone who were in evacuation centers,” DeSantis said.

However, crews have been deployed to rescue hundreds across the country in trucks, boats and helicopters. That includes more than 400 people alone rescued from a flooded apartment complex in Pinellas County and US Coast Guard rescue the captain of the ship who ended up in the cold anchored water floating 48 kilometers from the coast.

Maria Bowman, 60, hunkered down in her pink mobile home in North Fort Myers, letting out Milton’s strong breath.

His home, which is 600 meters from the Caloosahatchee River and is at risk of hurricanes, was in an evacuation Zone A – the category of most vulnerable areas.

He heard his house rumble as Milton came ashore. His power went out around 22:00.

“It felt like an explosion,” he told BBC News. “Bhum. There is no electricity.”

Ms Bowman, who says she has weathered many storms, says she is ready to leave the kingdom.

“There are too many storms,” ​​he said. One day you survive, the next you don’t. Who knows.”

Gov. DeSantis warned that flooding is still possible in the coming days. He mentioned that the death toll may continue to rise as the impact of the storm becomes clear.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor expressed relief that her city hasn’t seen the kind of storm that was feared.

But the district saw the damage.

Near St. Petersburg, a Major League Baseball stadium that is home to the Tampa Bay Rays was severely damaged. The wind blew through the field of the stadium, which lights up orange when the team wins a home game.

The crane also broke and fell in the middle of downtown St Petersburg, crashing into the heights as the storm passed.

Castor and other officials spent days urging people in Milton’s path to flee their homes or risk death.

Milton became a category three storm on Wednesday evening local time, packing winds of 124mph (200km/h). Earlier in its life, it was classified more than once as a category five hurricane – meaning the most powerful type of storm.

Milton’s arrival comes two weeks after the Southeast US was hit by Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 200 people and left many missing. Cleanup operations are ongoing.

Milton, which has weakened to a post-tropical storm, passed Florida and crossed the Atlantic Ocean, north of the Bahamas.