In the midst of Hurricane Milton’s powerful onslaught, not everyone took heed of the dire warnings. Despite pleas from authorities and evacuation orders urging residents to flee, dozens of thrill-seekers chose to stay behind, turning the storm’s arrival into a spectacle. As the Category 3 hurricane made landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast, these risk-takers decided to embrace the chaos, capturing the wild weather for their social media feeds and livestreams.
Florida Woman: Maternity Photo Shoot with Hurricane Milton?
Y’all are crazy 🤣
Key West, Southern Most Point USA, Florida. pic.twitter.com/YpFgNZ1ZAs
— Silver 🍁 (@SylverL1n3s) October 9, 2024
Milton hit Florida with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, accompanied by a deadly storm surge and torrential rain that transformed streets into rivers. The hurricane’s arrival sparked mass evacuations, with officials stressing the perilous conditions by warning that “if you stay, you will die.” Thousands left, but a small group of defiant locals remained, determined to challenge the storm head-on.
Scenes from the Southernmost Point buoy in Key West showed groups braving the lashing rain and fierce winds to snap selfies at the iconic landmark. Nearby, surfers caught waves whipped up by the hurricane, turning the turbulent waters into their playground. One especially determined individual was spotted running along the beach, only to drop down for a set of push-ups as waves crashed around him.
There’s a dinosaur at the Southernmost Point, Key West right now 😅#HurricaneMilton #southernmostpoint pic.twitter.com/zWKbajgozc
— ♔ Jennifer ♔ (@jennifergeneve) October 10, 2024
In Naples, Florida, a man became an internet sensation when a livestream captured him securing a Trump 2024 flag to a pier in the middle of the storm. With winds battering the dock, he managed to plant the flag, and it stood resilient against the gusts, at least for a while—though the livestream went offline shortly after, leaving the flag’s fate unknown.
PATRIOT OF THE DAY: Florida Man braves Hurricane Milton and plants a TRUMP flag on the Naples pier. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/3JV0r4OT8v
— Old Row (@OldRowOfficial) October 9, 2024
The storm’s fury did not deter a Tampa resident, either, who made headlines by going for a jog as the city hunkered down for the storm’s arrival. Meanwhile, thousands of viewers tuned into various livestreams to watch these daring (or reckless) displays, with one viewer noting that those ignoring the dangers were showcasing “natural selection at its best.”
THIS JUST IN: Florida Man has been spotted on video doing push-ups in Key West as the first remnants from Hurricane Milton (Category 5) roll in 😁 pic.twitter.com/yfVgQNAD18
— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPow3ll) October 9, 2024
While these daredevils turned Hurricane Milton into a viral event, the reality of the storm’s destruction was no joke. As Milton crossed Florida, it weakened to a Category 1 storm but left a trail of devastation in its wake. Widespread power outages affected more than 3 million homes and businesses, with the central Gulf Coast bearing the brunt of the damage. In Sarasota and other areas, roads were blocked by debris, downed trees, and overturned boats. A suspected tornado caused further destruction in Fort Pierce, where two deaths were reported at a retirement community.
Even as the storm moved off the Florida coast, officials continued to warn that dangers remained, with high winds, intense rainfall, and flooding still a serious threat. Flash flood emergencies were declared for Tampa Bay and surrounding areas, where nearly 17 inches of rain fell in some places. The National Hurricane Center cautioned that while hurricane warnings had been lifted, storm surge warnings remained in place for parts of the west coast and eastern Florida, as well as for coastal areas of Georgia.
.@BrianEntin just found Florida Man going for a jog in Tampa as Cat 3 Milton approaches. @NewsNation pic.twitter.com/TdGQwPazFx
— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) October 9, 2024