Police Bodycam Shows Children Among 15 People Being Rescued After Tree Falls on Home During Hurricane Milton
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10/10/2024 12:15 PM
The footage showed Tampa police officers escorting the home's occupants to safety
TampaPD/Youtube
Still image from footage of Tampa Police evacuating residents during Hurricane MiltonFlorida police released bodycam footage that showed more than a dozen people, among them children, being rescued from a residence after a tree fell on it as Hurricane Milton made landfall in the state on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
According to a press release issued by the City of Tampa on Thursday, Oct. 10, authorities received an emergency call about the tree crash on a single-story home in the 1700 block of E. Wood Street that was said to be occupied by 15 people.
The city said that Tampa Police Department officers were sheltering less than 2 miles away when they were alerted about the tree fall and arrived at the residence during a break in the storm bands.
Spencer Platt/Getty
Police idle near where a crane sits on the street after crashing down on Oct. 10, 2024 in St. Petersburg, Fla.Related: Viral Florida Man 'Lt. Dan' Is Safe After Riding Out Hurricane Milton in His Boat
The bodycam footage, recorded on the evening of Oct. 9 and shared on YouTube, showed Tampa police officers entering the residence and helping the occupants, including children, evacuate amid the heavy rain.
In the clip, one of the officers could be heard saying to a child who was getting into a patrol vehicle: "It's okay bubba. It's okay. You're okay."
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The city's news release added that the officers were able to get all of the home's occupants to safety, stating: "They were transported to the closest shelter. One officer took the time to ensure the main power to the home was turned off before leaving."
TampaPD/Youtube
Still image from footage of Tampa Police evacuating residents during Hurricane MiltonRelated: Florida Highway Patrol Rescues Dog Tied to Pole Before Hurricane Milton Makes Landfall
In the same news release, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said: "Every member of this department is committed to the safety of our community. The swift actions taken by these officers during a break in the storm bands provided this family with a sense of safety in a time of fear and uncertainty."
The City of Tampa has also urged residents to "remain indoors until it is deemed safe to go outside later in the day" in a separate release as the situation continues to be assessed following Milton's arrival.
Milton, which followed the recent Hurricane Helene, made landfall as a Category 3 storm on the western coast of Florida on Oct. 9 after it passed through the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center forecasts that the hurricane will bring "life-threatening" hazards to the western coast up and down central and southern Florida, including the Tampa Bay area.
At least four storm-related deaths in the Lakewood Park community were confirmed by St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson on Oct. 10.
During an Oct. 10 morning press briefing shared on X (formerly Twitter), Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis said that 48 people have been rescued by state search and rescue teams as of 6:30 a.m. local time.
According to Poweroutage.us, which monitors power outage activity, there are currently 3.4 million Florida customers without electricity.
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