Tropical Storm Milton leads to initial fatality, utilities infrastructure collapses
The large and harmful Hurricane "Milton" touched down earlier and more to the south than anticipated on Florida's west coast. The U.S. Hurricane Center indicated that the Category 3 tempest hit the mainland at Siesta Key, south of Tampa, on Wednesday at 8:30 PM local time. With wind speeds of up to 195 kilometers per hour and massive rainfall, "Milton" now poses a risk to the Tampa Bay area, which has over three million residents.
A tornado sparked by "Milton" resulted in several deaths, according to CNN. Power outages have already occurred, affecting over 1.9 million individuals, as per ABC. The number of affected people has been increasing rapidly.
The hurricane has already generated at least 19 tornadoes and ruined around 125 homes, as stated by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. As the storm struck the shore before the anticipated flood, he hopes that the worst of the predicted storm surge will be avoided from Florida's west coast. Forecasts suggest that the sea level could rise up to four meters.
Thousands readied for clean-up
Authorities made preparations for extensive search and rescue operations that could continue throughout the night. "They'll manage, so it's alright even if almost all rescue operations have to be carried out in the dark during the middle of the night," DeSantis stated. Nearly 9,000 National Guard members and 50,000 utility workers are ready to contribute to cleanup efforts and restore power. Most of the state is impacted by tropical storm-force winds. The hurricane produced waves up to 8.5 meters high on the sea, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Experts caution about extreme threats due to the storm's unusual size and unique path. They anticipate harmful storm surges and extensive flooding. Authorities strongly advise against being outdoors. "It's currently too dangerous to safely evacuate, so you need to take shelter and just endure it," DeSantis said.
U.S. President Joe Biden urged the population to strictly adhere to safety guidelines: "It's literally a matter of life and death." Up to two million people had previously been evacuated. Mandatory evacuations were issued for mobile homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Major theme parks, such as Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, were temporarily closed. The hurricane is forecast to result in billions of dollars in damage in Florida.
Trump expresses sympathy to Florida
Former President Donald Trump, who was speaking at a rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, expressed his wish to send "our love" to everyone in Florida, who are dealing with a rough night. He prayed for those in the storm's path and asked God to protect them. "I've never seen a hurricane like this," Trump said. He described it as a significant and dreadful situation.
Many states that may be impacted by "Milton" are led by Republican governors, he noted. He predicted that they would "do a phenomenal job." In recent days, he has also propagated the conspiracy theory that funds from the disaster relief agency are being distributed to individuals without legal status - with Democrats allegedly attempting to illegally mobilize these people to vote for Harris.
Popular singer Taylor Swift has already donated $5 million for hurricane relief. "Feeding America" expressed their gratitude to the artist for her generous donation to aid the victims of hurricanes "Helene" and "Milton" on their social media platforms. The money will be used to provide food and other relief supplies and rebuild communities.
"Milton" is expected to cross the Florida peninsula overnight and make landfall on the Atlantic coast as a hurricane on Thursday. Although the storm is likely to weaken over open water, there remains a flood risk along Florida's east coast. Two weeks ago, Hurricane "Helene" wreaked havoc in the state.
The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mobilized resources to aid areas affected by Hurricane "Milton", with a particular focus on Florida. The United States of America is working closely with the state government to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.
