The tragic aftermath of Hurricane Milton has claimed at least 16 lives, as reported by officials in Florida, while millions remain in the dark, grappling with the arduous task of rebuilding their lives.
Over two million homes and businesses continue to suffer power outages, with certain regions along the storm’s devastating route still submerged under water.
Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized, “There are locations where water levels keep rising.” Despite the storm’s severity, he expressed a sense of relief, stating, “Thankfully, this wasn’t the worst-case scenario.”
During a briefing at the White House, President Joe Biden shared that experts project the damage from the storm to reach a staggering $50 billion.
As concerns mount regarding the sufficiency of federal disaster funding, the president urged Congress to “step up” its efforts, particularly in providing assistance to severely impacted small businesses.
The agency designed to support these businesses and families is struggling to cope with the overwhelming flood of crises and is facing a financial crunch.
Roads across parts of Florida are strewn with fallen trees and assorted debris.
Former President Donald Trump has incorrectly asserted that the Biden administration rerouted hurricane relief funds to assist migrants, provoking backlash even from some members of his own party.
When questioned if Trump alone should bear the blame for the misinformation swirl, Biden replied, “No… but he certainly has the loudest voice.”
Finding hope amid despair
On Siesta Key, a picturesque barrier island close to Sarasota and where the storm made its infamous landfall, Milton has created a bleak scene.
Several streets were still under water yesterday. The landscape bore the scars of destruction, with scattered furniture—sofas, mattresses, chairs, and various appliances—discarded haphazardly along the roads.
“It’s simply awful,” said John Maloney, 61, as he cleared tree branches from a seaside property he was renovating. “But I believe we’ll find a way to rebuild.”
Interestingly, it was tornadoes, rather than flooding, that accounted for many storm-related fatalities.
Reports indicated at least six deaths in St. Lucie County, four in Volusia County, two in Pinellas County, and single fatalities in Hillsborough, Polk, Orange, and Citrus counties.
Hurricane Milton caused significant damage, toppling power lines, ripping the roof off a Tampa baseball stadium, and flooding residential areas.
In Sarasota, the line for fuel stretched for blocks, as around 100 vehicles awaited their turn at one of the rare gas stations still operational. Many individuals stood in line on foot with jerry cans in hand.
“We heard they had fuel here, and so did everyone else,” said local resident Dave Stone.
Unprecedented tornado warnings
The Small Business Administration, which provides loans to those impacted by disasters, revealed that it is currently aiding victims of 36 different crises and is rapidly depleting available funds, according to its administrator, Isabel Casillas.
“We’re running out of time—it’s only a matter of days,” Ms. Casillas informed CNN.
The National Weather Service reported a staggering 126 tornado warnings issued throughout Florida on Wednesday, a record noted by hurricane expert Michael Lowry.
Rescue operations remain ongoing; Governor DeSantis announced that 1,600 individuals had been successfully evacuated. The Coast Guard also shared the remarkable rescue of a boat captain, who weathered the storm clinging to a cooler out in the Gulf of Mexico, some 48 kilometers from the shore.
Experts pinpoint human-induced climate change as the culprit behind Hurricane Milton’s increased intensity, making it both wetter and windswept.
What initially would have been a Category 2 hurricane transformed into a more menacing Category 3 storm, according to a report from the World Weather Attribution group of climate scientists.
For further insights: Hurricane season often unleashes a tempest of misinformation.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
