Is it safe to travel to Florida? Airports reopening as Hurricane Milton cleanup begins

14.10.2024 - 21:33 / euronews.com / Saskia ODonoghue

Floridians are returning to their homes and businesses to survey the damage after millions were advised to evacuate before Hurricane Milton.

The extreme weather killed at least eight people but many expressed relief that Milton wasn’t worse. The hurricane spared densely populated Tampa a direct hit and the lethal storm surge that scientists feared never arrived.

Arriving just two weeks after the devastating Hurricane Helene, the system knocked out power to more than three million customers, flooded barrier islands, tore the roof off the Tampa Bay Rays ' baseball stadium and toppled a construction crane.

Despite all this tourism is vital to Florida's economy. The southeastern state is one of the most visited in all of the US, with an estimated 140 million people making the journey in 2023.

Many people with trips planned to the Sunshine State will likely have questions about how to handle Milton’s impact and the aftermath. Here’s everything you need to know. 

While most Florida airports closed over the last few days, they are gradually reopening and restarting flights.

Orlando International Airport, the state’s busiest, said departures for domestic flights and international flights would resume today (Friday) after domestic arrivals resumed last evening (Thursday). The airport had minor damage, including a few leaks and downed trees.

Tampa International Airport, closest to where the storm hit, is also reopening today (Friday) along with Melbourne Orlando.

While Florida has been hit hardest by Milton, travel disruptions spread across the country so always check on your flight's status before heading to the airport.

If you are travelling with a UK or EU airline, the operator is obliged to fly you home as soon as there is availability. If there is a lack of seats and you’re forced to wait, the airline must provide accommodation and meals in the mean time.

If you were on a cancelled flight and don't want to reschedule for some reason, the airline is required to give you a full refund.

Milton prevented Simon Forster, his wife and their two children from returning to Scotland as planned on Wednesday, so they enjoyed an extra two days of their two-week vacation on a bustling International Drive in Orlando’s tourism district on Thursday. Hurricanes seem to follow them since 2022's Hurricane Ian kept them from returning to Scotland after another Orlando vacation.

“Two extra days here, there are worse places we could be," he said.

The help travellers are entitled to differs depending on what kind of trip you are on. 

In theory, if you’re on a package holiday, then your tour operator should make arrangements on your behalf. 

However, emergency management arrangements in the state are well-planned, with the Federal Emergency