There is no sugarcoating it: Tampa Bay's recovery and cleanup following Hurricane Milton will likely take months, if not years. But we're all in this together.

While we don't know the full extent of Hurricane Milton's damage, we're looking at some of the earliest stories we know in the storm's aftermath.

What we know

As of Thursday afternoon, ~600,000 Tampa Electric customers are without power. Over in Pinellas County, ~410,000 Duke Energy customers’ lights are out. Workers are doing everything they can to get power back on for the ~3.5 million across Florida sitting in the dark.

One of the biggest stories from the storm came from Tropicana Field, where the roof ripped off in the gusts. The baseball stadium was being used to house first responders, linemen, and essential workers preparing to assist in Milton's aftermath — they were all evacuated. The Rays are assessing the damage and working with law enforcement to secure the facility.

Nearby, in downtown St. Pete, a crane fell into the Tampa Bay Times' building, causing significant structural damage. It reportedly fell from the construction site of the nearby Residences at 400 Central, the soon-to-be tallest tower in the Burg.

Downtown St. Petersburg was hit hard. | Photo via WTSP

Over a dozen people were saved from a Tampa home after a tree fell onto the property. The incident happened on East Wood Street in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood, where police saved multiple children and escorted everyone to a nearby shelter during a break in storm intensity.

And over in Clearwater, a reported 430 people were rescued from a flooding apartment complex. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said it is the most significant water rescue he has seen in the area.

How to help

There are several ways you can help right away. First and foremost, stay inside if you can. This keeps roadways clear for emergency workers, essential personnel, and first responders as they assess damage and attend to critical needs. It may be tempting to go and take a look at the damage, but in doing so, you could make it worse.

Keep off the roads if you can, TBAY. | Photo via WTSP

This has been a rough hurricane season so far for TBAY. Experts say this is because of warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. These waters have been warmer than usual in 2024, which is why an above-average Atlantic hurricane season was predicted earlier this year.

There have been concerns about another hurricane coming in behind Milton, but meteorologists say it was "ripped apart" by winds, possibly as a result of the storm that just came through. We recommend keeping up with local meteorologists, news stations, and the National Hurricane Center for the most accurate updates and information during hurricane season.

For those who need help, FEMA will provide $750 immediately as part of its "Serious Needs Assistance" program. Further financial compensation is available to those deemed eligible once a damage assessment is complete. We recently rounded up some advice for FEMA applicants.

We truly hope you are doing okay. The aftermath of the storm Please send in your photos from the storm and its damage so we can share them in a future newsletter.