SPPD provides new storm death, crime information

The St. Petersburg Police Department has provided new information regarding storm-related deaths, burglaries and traffic accidents as officials continue assessing Hurricane Milton’s widespread impacts on the city.

Police Chief Anthony Holloway, when asked by the Catalyst at an emergency briefing Thursday, said St. Petersburg recorded two fatalities as Milton battered the area. While the death toll could have been higher if the area received a previously projected catastrophic storm surge, Holloway noted that two families lost a “loved one.”

Yolanda Fernandez, community awareness division manager, provided an update Friday morning. She said a 71-year-old woman “had a medical episode during the storm and paramedics were unable to respond.”

A 71-year-old man was found dead in Campbell Park immediately after the storm. “The medical examiner will determine the cause of death, but we believe it was storm-related,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez could not confirm if officials reached the woman’s next of kin and could not release her name. The SPPD is still working to locate the man’s family.

Lake Maggiore overflowed into several South St. Petersburg homes during the storm. Photo: Facebook.

St. Petersburg accounted for both of Pinellas County’s storm-related deaths. Two people also died in the city during Hurricane Helene, which inundated the city less than two weeks before Milton.

A Tampa woman was killed by a large falling tree branch in Milton’s aftermath Thursday morning. The hurricane also spawned several powerful tornadoes, which claimed six lives in other parts of the state.

In total, at least 16 people died during the storm. Three deaths occurred in St. Lucie County, and Citrus, Polk, Sarasota and Orange County each reported one fatality.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said local agencies determine whether the storm caused a death. Those numbers could also increase as officials complete damage assessments. For example, the death toll in Pinellas during Helene soared from an initial five to 13.

Traffic accidents and burglaries

Over 100 St. Petersburg intersections lacked working traffic signals Thursday. Fernandez said that number is now down to 74.

City officials encourage residents to stay off hazardous roads. Those who must travel should treat intersections without traffic lights as a four-way stop. Many motorists either dismiss or lack that guidance, increasing the potential for accidents.

“Anecdotally, we have seen some crashes at intersections where lights aren’t working,” Fernandez said. “However, we now have no way to quantify them because the lights are sometimes intermittently on and off.

“In general, there are fewer people on the roads, so the overall number of crashes is down.”

A city employee repairs a traffic signal near Tropicana Field in Hurricane Milton’s aftermath. Photo: City of St. Petersburg.

Thousands of residents heeded evacuation warnings, and the SPPD dedicated patrols in those areas to intercept opportunistic criminals. Officers arrested an attempted burglar Wednesday afternoon in flood-prone Shore Acres, as Milton began lashing the city with extreme wind and torrential downpours.

Fernadez said at least one resident reported a burglary when they returned home after the storm passed. “Those reports are still actively being written, so I don’t have any additional information to release,” she added.

The Come-N-Go convenience store at 5601 38^th Ave. N. was burglarized Thursday night as most of the city still lacked electricity. Fernandez said the suspects smashed windows to gain entry.