Tropicana Field served as a refuge for countless storm responders, but Hurricane Milton viciously stripped off a majority of its roof.
Milton didn't hold back on its destructive path through Florida, tearing apart Tropicana Field's roof – a baseball stadium transformed into a refuge for storm workers. This stadium was left in shambles by Milton's series of tornadoes, making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday and causing at least four fatalities, according to authorities.
Drone footage revealed empty cots lining the baseball field where the Tampa Bay Rays typically play.
"This is one of the strangest things I've ever seen," weather chaser Jonathan Petramala shared with CNN upon reaching the stadium in St. Petersburg's downtown area.
"I managed to actually grab a piece of that roof, just to get a feel for the material," Petramala explained. "It's like thick vinyl, and you could see it had no chance against Hurricane Milton's powerful winds."
Previously, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had announced that Tropicana Field would serve as a base camp for debris clean-up operations and emergency personnel, accommodating up to 10,000 individuals.
No injuries were reported after the roof collapse, and local authorities encouraged people to stay away from downtown St. Petersburg, as a representative for the city reported.
CNN reached out to the Rays and Major League Baseball for comment, as they are currently in their offseason.
This report was compiled by CNN's Kathleen Magramo, Colin Jeffery, and Jacob Lev.
The Tampa Bay Rays usually call Tropicana Field their home, but after Milton's destruction, it's now a place where we, the storm workers, are seeking shelter.
Despite the damage, no injuries were reported among us, the people who are now utilizing Tropicana Field as a base camp for debris clean-up operations.
