Democracy Dies in Darkness

Milton toppled a crane onto a newsroom. The staff kept reporting.

The impact of the crash on the Tampa Bay Times’s offices was unclear Thursday, and leaders were discussing what to do if the space remains inaccessible.

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A crane collapsed during Hurricane Milton on Wednesday, landing on the St. Petersburg, Fla., building that serves as the headquarters of the Tampa Bay Times. (Marco Bello/Reuters)
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As Hurricane Milton whipped across St. Petersburg, Fla., on Wednesday night, a fallen crane sprawled across First Avenue South.

Smoke billowed from the top of a commercial high-rise where the crane had hit it, according to video shared by a Tampa Bay Times reporter whose newsroom is in the building. A chunk of the structure was missing. Alarms sounded from inside, and the air smelled like gas.

No injuries were reported, and the building was closed at the time.

But the damage left the staff of one of Florida’s largest newspapers unsure when they’d be able to return to their office as they raced to cover their second hurricane in as many weeks — while also trying to safeguard their own homes and families. There were at least 14 storm-related deaths from Milton, hundreds more in need of rescue and millions left without power.

The damaged building was a gut punch to Ian Hodgson, a data reporter on the education team who said his house was still without electricity Thursday. Now, he said, he can’t find comfort in the physical newsroom, either.

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