Hurricane Milton live updates: At least 13 fatalities reported

At least 13 fatalities have been reported in connection with Hurricane Milton, ABC News has assessed following multiple press briefings Thursday.

They include six deaths in St. Lucie County, where a dozen tornadoes were reported; four storm-related deaths in Volusia County; two deaths in St. Petersburg; and one death in Citrus County, where Florida Highway Patrol said a man died after colliding with a falling tree.

-ABC News' Jason Volack

Six people are dead in St. Lucie County after powerful tornadoes struck Florida's east coast, county officials said.

Twelve tornadoes were reported in the county within 90 minutes on Wednesday, prompting over 900 calls to 911, county officials said.

County Administrator George Landry praised the commitment of first responders, saying, "During the storm, our emergency personnel were literally dodging tornadoes to reach residents."

At least 38 tornadoes were reported across Florida on Wednesday. There were 126 tornado warnings issued in South Florida -- the most on record for the state and the second-highest for any state in one day.

-ABC News’ Jason Volack

Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said damage to the Wellington area from a suspected tornado on Wednesday was extensive.

Bradshaw told reporters during a press briefing Thursday that he flew in a helicopter to survey the damage from the air.

"When you see the devastation from the air, it's amazing, it looks like a war zone," he said.

The sheriff said damage assessments of about 200 homes showed most were uninhabitable.

"I can tell you why: The places I saw looked like it was an atomic bomb that blew it up," Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw said crews are doing more searches with drones now.

Seven people were injured in the storm, officials said.

-ABC News' Matt Foster

Storm surge and tropical storm warnings for Milton have been discontinued, as the storm is racing out to sea.