The strong winds of Hurricane Milton tore off parts of the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The stadium was severely damaged, forcing authorities to relocate base camp to Jacksonville. The damage is significant enough that the roof will need to be rebuilt.

Threat to rescuers?

Earlier this week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Tropicana Field would be converted into a temporary base camp for emergency workers, involved in hurricane damage recovery. The camp could accommodate up to 10,000 people to facilitate the coordination of rescue efforts and the clean-up of the affected areas. However, when the hurricane hit St Petersburg, the force of the wind exceeded the stadium's structural capacity.

As the St Petersburg police confirm, the authorities managed to move the camp to Jacksonville before the hurricane hit. Although several thousand members of the National Guard and frontline players were stationed there, no one was hurt, thanks to the swift action of the services.

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Dramatic moments as roof rips off

The Tampa Bay Rays media guide reported that Tropicana Field roof was designed to withstand winds of up to 115 miles per hour (about 185 km/h). However, on Wednesday evening, wind speeds in St Petersburg were 101 miles per hour (162 km/h), which proved threatening enough to begin damaging the roof structure.

Bill Johnson, a St Petersburg resident and staunch Rays supporter, watched the unfolding events with concern from the window of his relative's home. He said in a phone interview Thursday morning that he heard fluttering and saw pieces of the roof begin to break off around 10:45 p.m. Johnson described how, in just 30 minutes, small tears in the roof turned into large, visible tears until entire roof panels began to fall off. It just makes me sad seeing the stadium of the team I love ruined he added.

Rebuilding Tropicana Field will be inevitable

The destruction of Tropicana Field's roof raises questions about the future of the iconic sports venue. The current damage requires immediate remedial action, which could prove costly and time-consuming. Club authorities and local institutions are already working to assess the extent of the damage and plans for reconstruction.

Video of the roof coming off Tropicana Field was shown by the Tampa Bay Rays on their social media.

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Hurricane Milton wreaks havoc in Florida

Hurricane Milton hit the Florida coast near Sarasota on Wednesday, bringing with it devastating consequences. Many regions of the state were inundated by flash floods, in addition to the numerous tornadoes that ravaged the surrounding areas, destroying homes and causing serious injuries and even fatalities.

Emergency services are still working at full capacity, trying to help residents who have lost their homes and are struggling with a lack of access to basic services such as electricity and water. According to meteorological forecasts, the hurricane is expected to maintain its strength for several more days, threatening more areas.