Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol recovered an abandoned Bull Terrier dog that was tied to a fence post in a pool of water off a highway outside Tampa on Friday as Hurricane Milton approached Florida’s west coast.
Bodycam video posted by FHP in Tampa shows officers approaching the frightened pooch:
FHP Troopers rescued a dog tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning. Don’t do this to your pet please… pic.twitter.com/8cZJOfkJL2
— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) October 9, 2024
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) promised to hold animal abusers accountable, “Thank you, @FHPTampa. It’s cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an incoming storm. FL will hold anyone accountable for pet abuse.
thanks, @FHPTampa.
It is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an impending storm. FL will hold anyone responsible for pet abuse. https://t.co/19axr8CLf0
– Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 9, 2024
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles posted an update Wednesday afternoon, “Update: Dog rescued by @FHPTampa is safe and receiving treatment. Troopers took him to a vet, where he was checked for injuries and given a clean bill of health.”
Update: Dog rescued by @FHPTampa is safe and receiving treatment. Troopers took him to the vet, where he was examined for injuries and received a clean bill of health. pic.twitter.com/cut1jv7cBe
— FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) October 9, 2024
Hurricane Milton has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm with winds of about 120 mph. A massive storm surge is expected on the west coast from about Tampa south to Ft. Myers with areas north and south are also expecting flooding from the storm.
Milton’s outer band has spun multiple tornadoes across Florida’s lower peninsula throughout the day.
Tornado footage from Clewiston, Florida, as Hurricane Milton approaches an hour from land. pic.twitter.com/SLndb7EFP9
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) October 9, 2024
ABC News reports 15 tornadoes have been reported with seven confirmed:
Before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida, at least 15 tornadoes had been reported across the state, seven of which had been confirmed.
There are multiple tornado warnings in effect for central and South Florida.
Follow for updates: https://t.co/ZGouaJoJQR pic.twitter.com/9jKfEaAaLr
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 9, 2024
Excerpts from the 5 pm EDT update in Milton from the National Hurricane Center:
..MILTON HITS THE CENTRAL FLORIDA COAST…
…WIND DUST, WIND DAMAGE, AND FLOODING
SITUATED BETWEEN CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN FLORIDA PARTS…SUMMARY 500 PM EDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…26.9N 83.4W
ABOUT 60 MI…100 KM WSW OF SARASOTA FLORIDA
ABOUT 170 MI…275 KM SW OF ORLANDO FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…120 mph…195 KM/H
CURRENT MOTION…NE OR 35 DEGREES AT 17 mph…28 KM/J
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…948 MB…28.00 INCHES…Storm Surge Warning applies to…
* Florida’s west coast from Flamingo north to Yankeetown,
including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay
* Florida’s Sebastian Inlet to Georgia’s Altamaha Sound, including the
River StA Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Florida’s west coast from Bonita Beach north to the Suwannee River,
including Tampa Bay
* Florida’s east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line north
to Ponte Vedra BeachA Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Lake Okeechobee
* Florida’s east coast from the St. Lucie/Martin County Line to
Palm Beach / Martin County Line
Oct 9 17:00 update:
…MILTON HITS THE CENTRAL FLORIDA COAST……FLOODING, DAMAGED WINDS, AND FLOODING EXPECTED BETWEEN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHWESTERN FLORIDA…https://t.co/dv1LkCViaN pic.twitter.com/TEBaPQ4m53
– National Hurricane Center (@NWSNHC) October 9, 2024
