We will know more tomorrow but here is my take.
Milton came in at Siesta Key. So the area to the right of the eye will suffer the greatest winds, usually about 20 or so miles east. This hurricane was weird in that it flattened out due to the higher barometric pressure and there was literally nothing to the south. All of the rain was to the north, but the wind still would have been to the east of the eye for the destruction zone. To the north, lots of flooding. And the circulation would have brought the high water to S. St Pete especially and Tampa Bay a little less. But those are all low areas. I would still expect lots of destruction in Amelia Island and Longboat Key and south to Venice. Luckily it was moving fast. A slow moving hurricane allows for weakened roots of trees and then any decent amount of wind will uproot it. Then power lines come down, streets are blocked and houses are destroyed by trees falling on them. I have many friends in this area and will hope to hear from them tomorrow.
