ORANGE COUNTY, Fla — Officials have confirmed that another Central Florida resident has died in the wake of Hurricane Milton's devastating path through the state.
After making landfall Wednesday night as a Category 3 storm and tearing east through Central Florida, Milton spawned tornadoes, flooded streets and brought whipping winds to many local neighborhoods — leaving a trail of destruction for residents to wake up to Thursday morning.
According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the cleanup process turned deadly for a man living on Pine Island Place.
Deputies say they responded to the home just before 5 p.m. Thursday after a man in his 60s was found lying unresponsive in his yard. When officials arrived, they say the man was already dead.
"It appears the man stepped on a downed power line while cleaning debris form the storm," OCSO said in a statement to WESH 2. "This is still an active and ongoing investigation."
In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, it is important to protect yourself from any potential hazards. Officials say you should exercise extreme caution while cleaning up, avoiding hazards like downed power lines and other dangerous debris. It's also recommended to never walk or drive through flood waters.
This tragic accident adds to the growing list of lives taken by Hurricane Milton. Officials confirmed that four people died during a destructive tornado outbreak in South Florida on Wednesday afternoon while another three people were also killed in Volusia County because of Milton.
