More than 3 million people are without power, and over 100 rescue missions are underway in Florida following Hurricane Milton’s destructive landfall. The storm, which made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night, has since moved off Florida’s east coast as a Category 1 storm, leaving a trail of devastation across the state.

The hurricane generated several tornadoes, leading to at least four confirmed deaths in St. Lucie County. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday morning that 48 people have been rescued so far, and “hundreds of rescuers [are] engaged in over 125 active missions in 26 different counties.”

Fox News reports how DeSantis acknowledged the significant impact of the storm but expressed relief that it wasn’t the worst-case scenario. “The storm did bring much destruction and damage. Tornadoes ravaged parts of the east coast of the state. Flooding occurred on the west and east coast, and strong winds lashed the state, especially in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties,” he said.

According to the governor, rainfall totals of 10 to 15 inches were observed in the Tampa Bay area and the northern I-4 corridor toward Sanford. Isolated areas in Pinellas and coastal Hillsborough counties saw up to 18 inches of rain. Sarasota County was hit hardest by storm surge, with water levels rising between 8 and 10 feet.

Tornadoes caused widespread damage, especially in St. Lucie County, where 17 tornadoes were reported. Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed multiple fatalities and said, “A rescue mission [is] ongoing, and hundreds of homes [have been] destroyed.”

Water rescues were reported in Hillsborough County, Orlando, and Clearwater, where local authorities urged residents to stay off the roads due to downed power lines and dangerous flooding. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor highlighted concerns about further flooding as high tide approached. “This morning, when high tide comes in, rivers are going to flood. All over Hillsborough County, not just in the city of Tampa,” she said.

In St. Petersburg, where the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field suffered roof damage, 18 inches of rain fell in just 24 hours. Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw urged residents to remain indoors. “We have hundreds of calls of power lines down. We have trees down, and we are out there actively making the city and the streets safe,” Bercaw said.

More than 3.1 million people across Florida are without power, including 800,000 Duke Energy customers in 35 counties. Duke Energy President Melissa Seixas told ‘Fox & Friends’ that the company is beginning damage assessments using crews on the ground, helicopters, and drones. “We expect that it will range from significant poles down, wires down, [and] a lot of debris from trees, also contending with the debris that remains from Helene and flooding and storm surge,” she said.

In Orlando, first responders were seen conducting water rescues of residents trapped in flooded apartment buildings. Meanwhile, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office reported that several bridges in the county were impassable, urging residents and business owners to stay off the roads to allow emergency crews to work.

As of 8 a.m. ET Thursday, Hurricane Milton was located about 75 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral. Some areas along Florida’s western coast experienced up to 10 feet of storm surge, with an additional 5 feet expected along the eastern coast, from Jacksonville to Cape Canaveral.

Gov. DeSantis praised the efforts of the rescuers and emergency personnel but warned that the situation remains dangerous. “Water levels are forecast to continue rising along northeast and west-central Florida rivers and waterways, with many forecast to reach moderate to flood stage over the next day or so,” he said.

As Florida begins to assess the damage and work toward recovery, residents are urged to continue to heed evacuation orders, and stay off flooded roads until it is declared safe to travel, as many dangers such as electrical wires are hidden under water.