The direction of Milton’s eyewall kept the highest storm surge out of Tampa Bay — which officials had for days said could pose a catastrophic, once-in-a-century threat and prompted one of the largest evacuations in Florida’s history. The storm still left a trail of destruction.

Tropicana Field’s roof was shorn off. A giant craned crashed into a building. But the Tampa Bay region didn’t experience the worst-case scenario from Milton.

Hurricane Milton shredded Tropicana Field’s roof, snapped power lines and toppled a massive crane into the headquarters of the Tampa Bay Times in downtown St. Petersburg.