In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, TikTok users took to the platform to share their experiences as they weathered the storm in Florida. Despite evacuation orders, several social media influencers living in Milton’s path chose to stay put after the hurricane hit on October 9th as a Category 3 storm.
One individual who gained attention was Joseph Malinowski, also known as “Lieutenant Dan,” from Tampa. He went viral on TikTok when he posted a video stating that he would face the storm on his boat. Fortunately, he survived the night on his 20-foot sailboat and assured local news anchor Kevin O’Donnell that he was doing fine.
Malinowski claimed that God had instructed him to get a boat and that everything had worked out according to plan. As an amputee, he believed his boat was the safest place for him during such extreme circumstances.
Another resident of Tampa, Morgan Roos, decided not to evacuate and instead stayed in her high-rise riverfront apartment. She provided real-time updates on TikTok throughout the storm. Although she documented most of her footage from her balcony, she also captured some shots from her building’s rooftop. Unfortunately, she faced challenges such as power loss and water entering her apartment due to failed sealed windows.
Meanwhile, lifestyle influencer Jacqueline Goldrich considered leaving Florida before the storm arrived but ultimately decided against it due to traffic congestion and high airfare prices. She opted to stay at her home in Lutz instead.
Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County with powerful winds reaching 120 mph and causing significant damage including heavy rainfall, tornadoes, and a destructive storm surge. Over three million homes and businesses were left without power across Florida.
Despite being downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane upon landfall and transitioning into a tropical storm as it moved towards the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Milton caused widespread destruction throughout its path.