Hurricane Milton updates: 16 dead across Florida in storm's aftermath

Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert said she spoke on the phone with President Joe Biden following his briefing earlier Wednesday about the "unprecedented" hurricane.

"The President wanted to see if there is anything we need in Sarasota to let him know. He understands this is going to be an unprecedented type of hurricane and also understands it will take a lot from the federal government to help us recover in Sarasota," Alpert said in a statement after Milton made landfall just south of Sarasota, near Siesta Key.

Powerful Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds.

The massive Category 3 storm is expected to make landfall within the next hour and is bringing life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds on the way.

There have been at least 30 reported tornadoes across Florida.

Sarasota is forecast to have nine to 13 feet of storm surge, Tampa could face six to nine feet and Fort Myers is predicted to face eight to 12 feet of storm surge.

Hurricane Milton is quickly approaching landfall along the coast of west-central Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.