LESS than a month after Hurricane Helen wrecked the Southeastern United States leaving at least 230 people dead, another catastrophic tropical cyclone brought heavy rains and caused massive destruction, this time in coastal Florida.

Hurricane Milton unleashed devastation across Florida causing waist-deep floods, and sprawled tornadoes tearing homes and other structures into pieces.

The powerful storm also peeled the roof of a baseball stadium and toppled trees and electric posts, leaving at least 12 people dead. Five of the fatalities are from St. Lucie County on Florida's east coast, and a dead woman was also found under a fallen tree branch.

The catastrophic storm brought at least 27 twisters blasting across the state in the Southeastern region of the U.S.

The dangerous category 3 storm made landfall in Siesta Key, west coast Florida with 120 mph sustained wind, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Milton left over three million residents in the dark as power was cut off and thousands of families were homeless, as per report by Reuters.

As the storm approached, mass evacuations were already implemented and residents were advised to prepare for "catastrophic and life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with moderate to major river flooding."

The government put up 149 shelters which can be occupied by 200, 000 people. Thousands of federal personnel were pre-deployed in the affected areas which include more than a thousand coast guard members to help the rescue operations.

Hurricane Milton accelerated its strength into a massive category 5 storm before its landfall it eventually weakened into a category 3 status but still left a destructive path, and exited as a category 1 storm. (LAO)

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