Hurricane Milton tracker: Monster storm pummels Florida after landfall

A portion of the roof at the Tropicana Field stadium in St. Petersburg was torn off amid high winds a short time ago.

Capt. Garth Swingle of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue told ABC News they have contact with the people inside and they are safe.

1:30

Portion of Tropicana Field roof torn off

A portion of the roof at the Tropicana Field stadium in St. Petersburg was torn off amid high winds from Hurricane Milton.

ABCNews.com

The Tampa Bay Rays ballpark was a designated staging site for first responders with cots on the field.

No first responders were being staged at Tropicana Field and the essential personnel that were there are all accounted for and safe, a Tampa Bay Rays spokesperson told ABC News.

There are "multiple fatalities" at a retirement community following a suspected tornado, St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson told ABC News.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in Fort Pierce, according to Pearson.

Pearson told West Palm Beach affiliate WPBF earlier that they have asked for search and rescue teams.

On the east coast of Florida, emergency personnel responded to reported tornados in Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Martin County, St. Lucie County and Indian River County.

--ABC News' Ben Stein and Darren Reynolds

Milton is now a Category 2 hurricane, with 110 mph winds as it continues moving inland.

A flash flood warning is in effect for Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater until 11:30 p.m. ET, according to the National Weather Service.

Central Hillsborough County, northern Manatee County and southeastern Pinellas County are under flash flood warnings until 2:30 a.m. ET.

Between 10 and 14 inches of rain have fallen in the region and flash flooding is already occurring, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency reported, "Life-threatening flash flooding of low water crossings, small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses."