Drone footage shows Hurricane Milton shredded Tropicana Field's roof

Locals and emergency responders are only just beginning to assess the total damage incurred from Hurricane Milton, but one early example of the historic storm's intensity is already on clear display. In the early hours of October 10th, extreme weather documentarian Brandon Clement uploaded nine minutes of ground and drone footage that showcased the destructive effects of 100 mph sustained winds on St. Petersburg's Tropicana Field, home to MLB's Tampa Bay Rays. As local news outlet WFLA explained on Thursday, the baseball team's home field was topped by fabric paneling that served as its roofing, an estimated two-thirds of which is now either shredded or gone completely. It's currently unclear if Tropicana Field suffered serious interior damage, but Clement's aerial images reveal substantial amounts of debris scattering the field, stands, and surrounding areas that includes what appears to be hundreds of cots. City officials previously intended to use the Rays' stadium as a hub for emergency worker coordinating efforts, but it's unclear how the facility's current state will affect response logistics in the coming days.