Hurricane Milton live updates: Airport is reopening; damage estimates; power restored

Here’s what to know about Hurricane Milton recovery efforts in Manatee County on Tuesday. This live updates report will be updated throughout the day.

Airport is reopening

Hurricane Milton shut down the airport near the Sarasota and Manatee County border. The hurricane destroyed the roof that covers Concourse B at SRQ, which includes a screening checkpoint and 13 aircraft holding gate rooms, the airport said.

According to an airport post on X, formerly Twitter, SRQ is set to reopen at 6 a.m. Wednesday with commercial flights beginning at 9 a.m.

Passengers should contact the airline directly for flight status, the airport said.

- Jason Dill

Milton damage calculated for Manatee

The initial numbers are in for Hurricane Milton’s damage to Manatee County.Milton caused more than $351 million in damage to the unincorporated areas of Manatee County. This does not include areas within the city limits of Bradenton, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach.

- Jason Dill

MORE: The latest Hurricane Milton damage report is in. Here’s how it compares to Helene

Power restored to 95% of Manatee

As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, about 5.3% or 13,828 customers remained without power in Manatee County, according to Find Energy. That’s a decrease from Monday morning’s 12% and a significant decrease when 80 percent of the county was without power on Thursday, the day after Milton slammed into Siesta Key off Sarasota.

In Sarasota County, about 4.82%, or 14,430 customers, lack electrical power.

In its recovery timeline, FPL projected that power would be restored to 95% of both counties by Tuesday night, a goal that has been met. However, the company has yet to specify when the remaining 5%, still affecting thousands of customers, will be restored.

- Milena Malaver

READ MORE: About 5% still without power in Manatee County after Hurricane Milton’s wrath

Manatee County Schools reopen

The Manatee County School District announced that schools will reopen Tuesday after closing for Hurricane Milton.

As of Monday afternoon, all of the district’s 51 schools had power.

“It is our hope that a return to school can provide a sense of normalcy for your students and families and that this can be a significant step on the road to recovery,” the district said in a statement Monday evening.

District officials said parents should expect school bus delays and unexpected power outages. They also asked parents to check for debris on the roads to school and to use caution around school buses.

- Victoria Villanueva-Marquez

This story was originally published October 15, 2024 at 8:28 AM.