Florida, already battered by recent storms, is preparing for a direct onslaught from Hurricane Milton as it escalates back to a formidable Category 5 hurricane. President Joe Biden implored residents to evacuate the area, cautioning that this event could become the most catastrophic natural disaster the state has faced in a century.
As the colossal hurricane draws near Florida’s western shore, anxiety permeates the air. Families hurriedly boarded up their homes, while others frantically sought escape routes.
“Make no mistake; this situation is dire,” Mr. Biden asserted from the White House. “It’s a life-or-death scenario, and that’s no exaggeration. Those who are under evacuation orders must leave—now, without delay.”
The urgency of Biden’s plea unfolded amidst heated pre-election rhetoric. His vice president, Kamala Harris, took aim at rival Donald Trump for spreading misleading statements about the recovery initiatives following Hurricane Helene, the storm that recently wreaked havoc.
As President Biden stated, “This is truly a matter of life and death.”
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported, “Milton is likely to experience fluctuations in intensity while traversing the eastern Gulf of Mexico. However, we anticipate it will pose significant danger as it nears Florida’s west-central coast on Wednesday evening.”
Governor Ron DeSantis, addressing a press briefing, enumerated the communities at risk. “Essentially, the whole peninsula of Florida is under some sort of watch or warning,” he explained.
Airlines ramped up their operations, adding extra flights out of Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, and Sarasota. Meanwhile, highways became congested with families fleeing, and gas stations faced shortages of fuel amidst the frantic exodus.
Michael Lowry, a hurricane expert, issued a stark warning: in the Tampa region, home to roughly three million residents, Milton’s storm surge could potentially double that of Helene, which had already led to significant flooding.
In light of impending disaster, President Biden postponed a significant trip to Germany and Angola to closely monitor the federal response efforts. As November’s presidential election looms, storm relief initiatives are taking center stage in the political arena.
While Florida braces for Hurricane Milton, remnants of Hurricane Helene linger. Critics, including Trump, have fueled public discontent about the federal response, falsely alleging that aid was diverted in favor of migrants.
Mr. Biden chastised Trump’s remarks as “un-American,” with Harris emphasizing the peril posed by such misinformation to national recovery efforts. “It’s absurd. Do you possess no empathy for those in distress?” she challenged Trump during an interview with late-night host Stephen Colbert scheduled for later airtime.
Scenes of frantic preparation unfolded across the state as residents lined up at distribution centers in Tampa to gather sandbags, vital for safeguarding their homes against potential flooding.
John Gomez, 75, decided to disregard evacuation recommendations, traveling all the way from Chicago to protect his second property in Florida. “I feel it’s wiser to be present in case of emergencies,” he confessed while waiting for sandbags.
Experts assert that climate change is contributing to more powerful storms. Warmer ocean waters generate additional water vapor, offering storms extra fuel that intensifies their impact.
In a demonstration of data collection, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employed a specialized aircraft dubbed “Miss Piggy,” despite turbulent winds and rain, to gather information directly from the storm.
Meanwhile, communities still recovering from Hurricane Helene’s devastation rushed to clear away debris that could transform into hazardous projectiles with Milton’s arrival.
In Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the storm’s strong winds caused downed trees and power lines, while heavy rainfall led to some flooding. Fortunately, significant damage and casualties were averted as the storm moved offshore.
Throughout the southeastern United States, emergency responders continue to struggle with relief efforts stemming from Helene, which took the lives of at least 230 individuals across various states. The Category 4 hurricane struck the Florida coastline on September 26, causing extensive flooding in distant inland areas, including North Carolina and Tennessee. Helene stands as the deadliest storm to hit the continental U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with the death toll expected to rise.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
