Difficult times have a way of bringing folks together. Ahead of Hurricane Milton, millions of people worked to find way to keep themselves, and others, safe. This includes our animal friends, like those at zoos. Taking care of pets is a bit easier, of course… that is unless you have a particularly large pet, like a horse.

Within two days, animal lovers across County adopted and fostered 117 cats and 113 dogs, emptying the shelter ahead of Milton's landfall.

Meghan Martin has worked at the hospital through Milton and Helene, but this is the first time her children have stayed with her.

Hundreds of Florida residents were rescued Thursday from the aftermath of Hurricane Milton after the storm smashed through coastal communities where it tore homes into pieces, filled streets with mud and spawned a barrage of tornadoes that killed at least five.

The historic storm batters state with heavy winds, tornadoes and rain. “This was not the worst-case scenario,” Gov. Ron DeSantis says.

Plus: FEMA Acting Associate Administrator for Response and Recovery Keith Turi explains officials' response plan. Tim Walz on the Electoral College.

That would make Milton one of the most expensive hurricanes in American history. Storms are becoming more destructive, in part because of climate change. Warming seas mean more energy to drive hurricanes.

Almost 12 hours after making landfall, Hurricane Milton was in the Atlantic, still as a hurricane. Milton brought with it tornadoes, storm surge and heavy rain after making landfall near Siesta Key Wednesday evening.

But as work began Thursday morning to restore services, clear debris, reopen bridges and undertake search-and-rescue operations, state officials were concerned about flash flooding after the hurricane brought heavy rain.