Access is restored to Siesta Key, a barrier island in Sarasota County where Hurricane Milton made landfall, and people are getting a first look at the storm’s aftermath

After battering the west coast of Florida with winds, pounding rain and storm surge, Hurricane Milton roared onshore near Siesta Key at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday as a powerful Category 3 hurricane with estimated wind speeds of 120 mph.

Kyle Kolaski sorts through a debris pile on Siesta Key the day after Hurricane Milton made landfall there on Oct. 9. On Thursday afternoon, the bridges to Siesta Key reopened, less than 24 hours after Hurricane Milton made landfall there Oct. 9 as a Category 3 storm.