From PBS NewsHour.

PBS News’ William Brangham reports from Lakeland, Florida — a city 25 miles from the coast where Hurricane Milton made landfall as a powerful Category 3 storm. The community he is reporting from is just one example of an area hit hard by Milton, despite being in the central part of the state.

“This entire mobile home community is flooded,” Brangham said. “It’s about two to three feet of water.”

Homes and vehicles for many blocks are submerged, with some residents stranded. People in the community told Brangham that they were not instructed to evacuate by authorities. Some chose to stay while others voluntarily evacuated or spent the night in local shelters.

In order to rescue people stuck in areas that are completely submerged in water, Polk County authorities have been running boat rescues and using airboats.

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