Wedding venue in Blue Ridge, GA for couples in Clearwater, FL

Andreína Zapiaín and her family watched with growing desperation Wednesday night as the floodwaters rose outside their apartment complex in Clearwater, Fla. Hurricane Milton’s winds howled, whipping a palm tree against the wall of their second-floor unit.

Two weeks ago, when Hurricane Helene hit Florida, the complex — which housed many working-class, mostly Hispanic residents — had endured a flood about thigh-high, said Ms. Zapiaín, 31. But on Wednesday with Milton, the water crept higher and higher.

Ms. Zapiaín and her family realized the swell would only get worse, she said. Despite the dark, they decided to leave. They figured they could swim and trudge through the flood to a higher building in the same complex where some of their relatives lived.

Her husband lifted their 11-year-old daughter onto his back and led the way, Ms. Zapiaín said. She followed behind them with her 25-year-old cousin. She could hear first-floor residents trapped by the water behind their closed doors screaming for help, she said, but could do nothing to help them.

At 4 feet 9 inches tall, Ms. Zapiaín could barely keep her chin above the water.

“I couldn’t touch the bottom, really,” she said in Spanish as she recalled the deepest point of the flood. “I was floating. I think it’s the worst thing I’ve experienced in my life.”

In the darkness, facing the wind and fighting the water, she prayed. “I asked God that we wouldn’t run into anything underwater,” Ms. Zapiaín said.

She and her family made it to their relatives’ apartment, a long stretch of buildings away.

By morning, the flood had receded a bit, but the water level still covered the doorknobs on the first-floor apartment below them. On the street, pickup trucks peeked out above the water. Some sedans and hatchbacks were still nearly covered.

Sheriff’s deputies and other rescuers commandeered small boats to help stranded people reach safety. One woman carried an infant. Another family clutched two small dogs.

A rescuer in an orange vest waded through the flood and knocked on the doors of first-floor units.

Ms. Zapiaín, a Venezuelan immigrant who arrived in the United States two months ago, stood on the side of an elevated road, looking down at the destruction and chaos. She worried that one of her downstairs neighbors, an older man who lived alone, had not escaped. She yelled for a rescue team not only to knock on his door but also to push it in to make sure he was safe.

“I kind of want to swim there myself,” she said.

Later, more rescuers arrived carrying red paint to mark units that had been checked — and tools to break down doors.

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CPI Summaries | CPI Tables

Area prices up 1.2 percent over the past 12 months

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for Tampa declined 0.1 percent from July to September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that a decline in the gasoline index was a main factor in the bi-monthly all items decrease. (Data in this report are not seasonally adjusted. Accordingly, bi-monthly changes may reflect the impact of seasonal influences.)

The all items CPI-U increased 1.2 percent for the 12 months ending in September. (See chart 1 and table A.) The index for all items less food and energy rose 2.0 percent over the past year. The food index continued to increase, up 1.6 percent over the last 12 months. In comparison, the energy index fell 9.1 percent over the past year. (See table 1.)

Food

The food index rose 0.8 percent from July to September. The food at home index increased 1.0 percent over the same period. The six major grocery store food group indexes were split over the two-month period, with three increases and three decreases. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 5.3 percent from July to September. The indexes for dairy and related products (+4.8 percent) and cereals and bakery products (+2.5 percent) also increased over the bi-monthly period.

The index for food away from home increased from July to September, up 0.4 percent.

The food index increased 1.6 percent for the 12 months ending in September. The food at home index rose 1.4 percent over the past year. Four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased over the last 12 months: meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (+2.5 percent); dairy and related products (+4.6 percent); fruits and vegetables (+2.8 percent); and other food at home (+1.6 percent). In contrast, the cereals and bakery products index declined over the past year, as did the index for nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials.

The index for food away from home increased 1.8 percent over the past 12 months.

Energy

The energy index declined 4.2 percent from July to September, largely due to a 7.6-percent fall in the gasoline index. The index for electricity was little changed over the bi-monthly period, down 0.1 percent.

The energy index fell 9.1 percent for the 12 months ending in September, reflecting declines in the gasoline (-10.7 percent) and electricity (-10.1 percent) indexes.

All items less food and energy

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent from July to September. The shelter index increased 0.4 percent over the bi-monthly period. The index for owners’ equivalent rent rose 0.8 percent over the two-months and the index for rent of primary residence increased 0.9 percent. Other indexes with notable increases from July to September include apparel (+6.7 percent) and education and communication (+1.4 percent). In comparison, the index for recreation declined 3.0 percent over the same period.

The index for all items less food and energy increased 2.0 percent for the 12 months ending in September. The index for shelter (+5.1 percent) was the largest contributor to the total 12-month increase in the all items less food and energy index. The indexes for owners’ equivalent rent (+4.3 percent) and rent of primary residence (+6.9 percent) also increased over the past year. Notable indexes to decline over the last 12 months include household furnishings and operations (-4.0 percent), education and communication (-2.4 percent), and new vehicles (-2.2 percent).

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Consumer Price Index for November 2024 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).

Technical Note

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change in prices over time in a fixed market basket of goods and services. The Consumer Price Index for Tampa is published bi-monthly. The set of components and sub-aggregates published for regional and metropolitan indexes is more limited than at the U.S. city average level; these indexes are byproducts of the national CPI program. Each local index has a much smaller sample size than the national or regional indexes and is, therefore, subject to substantially more sampling and other measurement error. As a result, local-area indexes are more volatile than the national or regional indexes. In addition, local indexes are not adjusted for seasonal influences. NOTE: Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices between cities; they only measure the average change in prices for each area since the base period.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Core Based Statistical Area includes Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties.

Refer to the national CPI news release technical note or the Handbook of Methods for more information.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Hurricane Milton continued its advance on Florida's Peninsula Tuesday as a very strong Category 4 storm with winds of more than 150 mph. Evacuations have to be completed on Tuesday as shelters across Florida were opening.

"Milton poses a extremely serious threat to Florida," the National Hurricane Center said. Emergency managers say if you are under mandatory evacuation it's a life-or-death situation and you must go.

Devastating impacts are forecast for Florida, including life-threatening storm surge, flooding rain and damaging winds as the storm is forecast to make landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast, possibly in the Tampa Bay or points south, then sweeping across the state in on a mostly northwest track menacing the Orlando area and the beach communities to the northeast.

Here's what to know about Hurricane Milton today:

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➤ Live updates for Lee County:Get the latest for the Fort Myers area here.

➤ Live updates for Collier County:Get the latest for the Naples area here.

➤ Live updates for Sarasota County:Get the latest for the Sarasota-Manatee-Bradenton area here.

Is there school today in Florida?

The answer on whether Hurricane Milton has canceled school depends on the school district you are in. As of Tuesday morning, more than two dozen Florida school districts were closed today and beyond. The Florida Department of Education has a list here, and public colleges and universities are included.

Disney World Hurricane Milton status

Disney World said late Monday that it was operating under normal conditions, but there are some alterations to hours and openings to some resorts coming to Disney. What we know:

On it's website, Disney World has this statement: "We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm, and the safety of our Guests and Cast Members remains our top priority. Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions and will continue to be on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Looking ahead, we are making adjustments based on the latest weather forecast and some areas with unique environments."

Where is Hurricane Milton going and how strong could it get?

State of emergency in Florida meaning

A storm slams into the state. There is a massive run on gasoline. A pandemic drives death tolls higher. Some natural disaster strikes and threatens Floridians and then the announcement comes: "Governor declares State of Emergency in Florida."

According to Florida Law, “A state of emergency shall be declared by executive order or proclamation of the Governor if she or he finds an emergency has occurred or that the occurrence or the threat thereof is imminent."

— C. A. Bridges

Current evacuation zones in Florida. Know your flood zone

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a website to determine whether you live in an evacuation zone and what zone it is.

Go to the website and enter your address. If your home is in one of the colored areas, those are flood zones where you may be asked to evacuate by local officials.

Typically, Zone A is the most vulnerable and the most likely to be asked to evacuate first. Zone F is most likely to evacuate last.

In an evacuation zone? Here are Florida traffic maps and cameras.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says there’s still much uncertainty about Hurricane Milton, but the state is preparing to open highway shoulders for mass evacuations to come.

Individual counties make evacuation calls. “Once those orders come down from all the counties, I think it’s going to be a significant number of people,” DeSantis said.

The Florida Department of Transportation is monitoring traffic, and as soon as travel speeds are down to 40 mph, the state will begin to open shoulders for travel to relieve congestion, according to state Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue.

— Cheryl McCloud

Which counties in Florida are in a state of emergency?

Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 54 Florida counties ahead of Hurricane Milton, which could bring Category 3 winds and flooding to already-heavily damaged Gulf Coast communities and beyond. The Florida counties included in the emergency declaration extend across the peninsula. They are:

Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia.

Hurricane Milton strength increases to Category 3 storm

Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aicraft indicate that Hurricane Milton is now a major hurricane. The maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 120 mph. Milton is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Hurricane Milton's eye shown in satellite images

Embedded content: https://cdn.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES16/ABI/SECTOR/gm/GEOCOLOR/20242810426-20242810911-GOES16-ABI-GM-GEOCOLOR-1000x1000.gif

Hurricane Milton is shown in this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency video from the GOES-East satellite.

Hurricane Milton tracker: Updating Florida path

Is there school today in Florida? Districts closed ahead of Hurricane Milton

More than a dozen school districts across Florida have announced they'll be closing ahead of and on the days Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida.

Nine schools were closed Monday and more have plans to be closed through Thursday. Here's a list of Florida schools closed today from the state.

Storm radar Florida

Latest spaghetti models for Hurricane Milton

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

(This story has updated to add new information.)

Exclusive Post photos reveal flamboyant links legend John Daly’s Florida manse after he said Hurricane Helene caused “total loss and devastation’’ to the $1.4 million waterfront abode.

The snaps Friday show the golf fan favorite’s million-dollar-plus home in Clearwater still standing, although at least part of the single-story stunner was apparently gutted and its floors warped.

Piles of ruined furniture and stuffed black plastic garbage bags sit on the curb in front of the three-bedroom, two-bath property, which is worth more than $1.4 million, according to online real estate sites.

“For everyone that has reached out, my family are safe, but our homes are not as water is pouring out in every crevice,’’ the former PGA champ, 58, wrote on Facebook on Sept. 27, hours after the killer ‘cane made US landfall around Perry, about three hours north of Clearwater.

“Total loss and devastation after living here all my life! I still cannot imagine all we have lost, but we are safe and all can be replaced! Praise God!” he said.

About five days later, on Wednesday, the famous grizzled dad of three told PGATour.com, “I just haven’t even gone back into’’ the home.

“I restructured it, fixed it up. Hadn’t been in it for two years; got all the stuff in there, and then it’s all gone,’’ said Daly — who has become a colorful cult classic on the greens partly by once smoking 21 cigarettes, guzzling 12 Diet Cokes and eating six packages of peanut M&Ms during a practice round before a major championship.

Daly told the outlet he has been living mainly in Dardanelle, Ark.

He described how people close to him in Florida were devastated as well because of Helene, the second deadliest hurricane to hit the US mainland since Katrina in 2005.

“We’re going to have to redo about three, three and a half homes, almost four,” Daly said.

“Anna’s mom lost her house,’’ he said, referring to the mother of fiancee Anna Cladakis.

A photo shows the home — in Tarpon Springs about 30 minutes away from the golfer’s — still standing but with its front mostly blown out and mounds of destroyed furniture and other belongings piled up on the curb.

Daly added of others, including Anna’s sister, Chrissy, “Matty’s burned down yesterday morning, and Chrissy had to get a boat to get to hers, so they’re all pretty much gone.”

His future sister-in-law’s home nearby also remains but it had heaps of trash, including wrecked furniture, on its curb, too, according to a photo.

“You live in Florida, you have to understand that’s going to happen, but not like this. I didn’t think it would be this bad,” Daly said.

“I hope everyone gets safe and gets their homes back. My heart just goes out to everybody.”

At least 220 people have been reported dead from the weather catastophe, with hundreds more still missing across the southeast. The storm is estimated to have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage.

CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. — Close your eyes and imagine Clearwater Beach. Now open them. The sight in front of us is anything but what we know and love, all due to the destruction Hurricane Helene left behind.

"Everything is lost," Alex Greco, the General Manager of Kings Pizza and Grill, said.

His business and every single other business on the island are gutted. Pictures, tables, chairs, equipment, even the walls line the street, ready for trash pick up.

"We got wings, everything, like we're talking about $20,000," he said, speaking of all of the food he had to throw away. "I just got the truck in before the day of the storm."

Greco told me one of the nearby businesses told him they don't plan to return; their lease was coming up, and the amount of damage left to deal with just wasn't worth it.

But rebuilding is worth it to many others, just like Greco. He said that even now, as they work to clean out their gutted building, they're committed to helping the other workers on the island as best they can.

"We have to open for all these guys to come here. We take care of all the workers with the cheapest on the beach," he said, reminiscing of what the business was able to do before the storm. "These people are waiting for us and reopen. They come and say please. So I give them a free drink right now."

It's a similar situation at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill. Their team spent Tuesday cleaning up as best they could, too.

"It's not good, but all things considered, not as bad as we thought when we started seeing video and photos of the beach, so it's still standing. We didn't have any glass broken. We only got a little bit of water inside, which was a miracle," said Frenchy's General Manager Chris Tiemeier.

They shared a video from their cameras at the beachfront restaurant of the water rushing throughout the patio. The building was secured with hurricane shutters, and it was also emptier than normal on the inside.

"At this location, we were in the middle of renovations, so we already had a lot of the equipment out of the building. We had a lot of furniture out of the building. We hadn't started putting pouring the bar tops yet. We hadn't done the floors yet. So for us personally, at this location, it's basically just removing, you know, any damage from the storm, and then continuing with the renovation," Tiemeier said.

Other locations were also damaged in the storm. In fact, the ice cream just beside Frenchy's Rockaway is owned by the restaurant as well. What it looks like in there is still to be seen.

"It's a tiny little thing. It's still standing, but we haven't really even opened the doors yet. We didn't have any product in the building here, so we didn't have to empty coolers full of rotten food. But the ice cream shop is going to, it's going to be a process over there. But luckily, it's small, so I think we just throw it out, pull the you know, what's not good. Yeah, we're not thinking about that right now. So it's gonna be one stinky can of worms open," he added.

The damage isn't just to the buildings. The parking lot is either taken up by mountains or sand, or ripped into chunks of asphalt thrown around. Next door at Palm Pavilion, the devastation is similar. But that's the case just about anywhere you look.

The big question now is when we will be able to enjoy the restaurants again. The answers may vary by owner, but for most, it is not soon.

"We weren't real sure when we were going to be open before the storm happened. So I'm not even going to guess. Just as soon as we can get everything cleaned up and safe. You know, we also had a lot of employees that live on the beach that are, you know, throwing all their possessions out and cleaning their furniture out of their houses. So we're certainly not gonna, you know, ask anybody to come help that's dealing with that on the personal level. So it's, you know, we'll get it done when we get it done," Tiemeier responded.

Tropical Storm Milton is forecast to be a Category 3 hurricane at landfall with Florida's west coast. ABC Action News Chief Meteorologist Denis Phillips discusses the potential impacts on Tampa Bay.

Latest Pinellas County News from ABC Action News

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