Jenna Russell

Our reporter’s account of a harrowing night in Sarasota, Fla. — different from anything she has experienced as a native of New England.

Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field, slammed a tower crane into a downtown Tampa building and spun up tornadoes that killed people on the opposite coast from where it made landfall while cutting a destructive path across central Florida.

Barrier islands were battered, and over three million customers were without power. Five of the deaths were in St. Lucie County, on the opposite coast from where the storm came ashore.

Barrier islands were battered, and over three million customers were without power. Five of the deaths were in St. Lucie County, on the opposite coast from where the storm came ashore.

New York Times People are rescued Thursday from the floodwaters surrounding their apartment building in Clearwater, Fla. (Zack Wittman/The New York Times)

The state’s preparations probably limited the impact of the storm, one of the strongest to ever hit the state. At least 12 deaths were tied to the hurricane.

A group of survivors and relatives of victims said the military failed to respond to warning signs from the gunman, an Army Reserve grenade instructor, ahead of the shooting.

The race has become a referendum on what the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office did, and failed to do, before a shooting that killed 18 people in Lewiston last fall.

After a resident of Hanson, Mass., projected the logo on town property, local officials fined him $100 per day for violating its bylaws.

Distrust of Kelly Ayotte, the Republican candidate, on abortion and strong support for Kamala Harris in the state may be helping keep the race close despite Ms. Ayotte’s advantages.