Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on Florida’s west coast Wednesday night as a major hurricane, spawning a swarm of destructive tornadoes across the peninsula and knocking out power to more than three million customers statewide. For a state still cleaning up from Helene, Milton is a devastating second blow in less than a month.

Back-to-Back Storms Are the New Reality

Milton exploded into one of the strongest hurricanes ever observed in the Gulf before landfall, giving residents only days to prepare. When major storms arrive in quick succession, utility crews, fuel supplies, and patience all run thin. Homes with automatic standby power came through Helene’s outages with lights on, and those same systems are carrying families through Milton’s aftermath now.

Preparing for Possible Impacts

• Inspect your standby generator and ensure it is ready to activate automatically if power is lost.
• Run a test cycle to confirm your system starts and transfers power properly.
• Plan for fuel supply and make sure natural gas or propane systems are fully connected and serviced.
• Consider an upgrade. Whole-home backup solutions from Generac and Kohler deliver seamless power protection during prolonged outages.

Stay Informed

Restoration will take time in the hardest-hit counties. Follow your utility and county emergency management for updates, and stay off flooded roads.