Eyewitness: ‘It felt like a hugely strong storm – but scale of damage will be revealed in daylight’
US correspondent James Matthews is reporting from Tampa, in Florida.
He said that the timing of the hurricane’s arrival means that it remains unclear exactly how badly the state has been hit.
“Things will become clear come daylight,” he said.
“The thing about Hurricane Milton is it has visited in the hours of darkness. And while a hurricane takes place, then search and recovery teams and people who make these assessments, make them properly when they can actually see the damage.
“It felt, I have to say, much as predicted, a hugely strong storm. You felt the power of the wind, the rain. There was the storm surge at coastal points in Central Florida.
“So clearly people in these circumstances, had they still been in situ, their safety would have been compromised considerably.
“It will only be really when daylight breaks, about 7.30am (12.30pm UK time), that we’ll know.
“So give it six hours, I suppose, when the authorities can go in, and assess the damage, just to count the costs.
“Bear in mind, we’re in a place where Hurricane Helene hit less than two weeks ago.
“That left 230 casualties. Once again, Florida will be counting the cost.”
