LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane Milton devastates Florida with deadly tornadoes and storm surges

4:11 a.m. EDT

Biden slams Trump for spreading 'onslaught of lies' about hurricane response

President Joe Biden on Wednesday criticized former President Donald Trump for spreading an “onset of lies” about the federal government's handling of Hurricane Helene as Hurricane Milton approached land in Florida.

“Frankly, these lies are un-American,” Biden said during a speech at the White House. “Former President Trump led this onslaught of lies.”

Biden accused Trump and his allies of misrepresenting the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) response and resources. He also singled out Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who claimed the federal government could control the weather.

Asked why he thought his Republican opponents were misrepresenting the administration's response, Biden replied: “I don't know.”

3:54 a.m. EDT

Search and rescue operations are underway in Florida

Officials say search and rescue operations are underway in Florida after a series of dangerous tornadoes swept through the area.

About 125 homes were destroyed before Hurricane Milton made landfall, with many of the damaged homes being mobile homes in senior living communities, according to Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Department of Emergency Management.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson shared a video on Facebook showing a 930-square-foot iron building rolled into a crumpled heap by a tornado. The building that housed the sheriff's patrol cars was empty at the time of the collapse, Pearson said.

3:45 a.m. EDT

Taylor Swift donates $5 million to hurricane relief efforts

Pop superstar Taylor Swift has donated $5 million to support relief efforts for communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Babineaux-Fontenot thanked Swift for “standing with us in the movement to end hunger and help communities in need.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Taylor Swift for her generous donation of $5 million to Hurricane Helene and Milton relief efforts,” Babineaux-Fontenot wrote. “This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover and provide essential food, clean water and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms.”

3:30 a.m. EDT

Several cranes collapse in St. Petersburg as Hurricane Milton hits Florida

The National Weather Service reported multiple reports of crane collapses in St. Petersburg due to Hurricane Milton's strong winds. The town is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Siesta Key, where the storm made landfall.

The St. Petersburg Fire Department confirmed late Wednesday the collapse of a crane about six blocks from the city pier. There were no reports of injuries.

The crane was on the construction site of a 157-meter-tall luxury high-rise that would be one of the tallest structures on the west coast of Florida and is scheduled for completion in summer 2025.

3:28 a.m. EDT

Hurricane Milton triggers deadly tornadoes in Florida

Hurricane Milton spawned at least 19 tornadoes across Florida, according to Reuters. Police reported that two elderly residents were killed in Fort Pierce when the storm unleashed strong waves and unusual winds.

Rescue teams are searching for survivors stuck in a Fort Pierce retirement community where hundreds of homes were reportedly “completely destroyed,” St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson told CNN's Laura Coates.

“We won't go into detail about how many there were, but I can tell you it's more than one person who lost their life that we've already recovered from,” Pearson told CNN.

Emergency services in Orlando, including police and firefighters, have suspended operations due to the extreme conditions, with forecasters warning of storm surges of up to 13 feet. Flash flood warnings remain in effect throughout Tampa.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press