While others fled, these TikTokers posted through Hurricane Milton

A drone image shows a flooded street due to Hurricane Milton in Siesta Key, Florida, on Oct 10, 2024. At least four people were confirmed killed as a result of two tornadoes triggered by Hurricane Milton on the east coast of the US state of Florida, local authorities said Thursday. — AFP

As Hurricane Milton barrelled toward western Florida this week, viewers watched coverage of trees uprooted and lying in roads; roofs flying from strong gusts of wind; and streets turned into rivers amid driving rain. Millions tuned in from around the world for the firsthand accounts of the residents who stayed.

But the reports many watched weren’t narrated by anchors on CNN or NBC – they were delivered in real-time, endless video streams by TikTok users.