At least 17 people in Florida have died due to Hurricane Milton, according to confirmed reports across the state. Six of those deaths were in St. Lucie County. Sheriff Keith Pearson confirmed initial deaths after tornadoes ripped through Spanish Lakes County Club Village and other areas near Lakewood Park in northern Fort Pierce.

Hurricane Milton strengthened as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida on Tuesday and could wallop one of the state’s major population centers with huge storm surges, lashing rain and destructive winds just two weeks after deadly Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.