The storm threatens to cause massive destruction. Residents who did not evacuate were ordered to shelter in their homes. US President Biden speaks of an event of the century.
Tampa/Washington – Hurricane “Milton” has reached the west coast of Florida. The storm made landfall with sustained wind speeds of up to 193 kilometers per hour, according to the US Hurricane Center. Shortly before “Milton” hit the coast, it had been downgraded from the highest category 5 to level 4 and finally to level 3. However, given the sheer size of the storm, warnings remained urgent. US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas described the situation on CNN as a “matter of life and death”.
The region around Tampa, which had already been classified as a high-risk area before the hurricane hit, is particularly affected. “Milton” is now expected to move from Florida’s Gulf Coast across the state towards the Atlantic. Severe destruction is also expected beyond the coast. Tornadoes were already raging in parts of Florida before the hurricane arrived. Water levels rose rapidly as strong winds pushed seawater inland.
Millions of people called to evacuate
Meteorologists predicted it could be one of the most dangerous storms in the state’s history. In addition to extreme wind speeds, heavy rain and dangerous storm surges are expected, which could cause widespread flooding.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of several coastal areas. Millions of people were asked to leave their homes and seek safety. Many responded to the call – there were reports of traffic jams and shortages of fuel and emergency shelter. Finally, the authorities asked people to barricade themselves in place (“shelter in place”) because safe evacuation was no longer possible.
Preparations were in full swing until the last minute. The US government initiated extensive relief measures to support the affected areas. The Pentagon mobilized thousands of National Guard troops to help with rescue operations and aid distribution. Emergency centers were also set up to ensure rapid assistance during and after the storm.
A week and a half ago, Storm “Helene” caused severe damage in Florida and several other states. Well over 200 people died. Given the arrival of “Milton,” many of those affected in Florida had no time to recover from the destruction.
Biden postpones visit to Germany
In view of the impending catastrophe, US President Joe Biden postponed his planned trip to Germany and Angola at short notice. Shortly before the hurricane hit, he again warned of the extreme strength of the storm. “It looks like the storm of the century,” he said at a meeting with key agency officials. Vice President Kamala Harris also attended the live televised meeting. Biden later addressed the population again to warn of the impending dangers.
Warning about misinformation
The US President also addressed the spread of misinformation. In recent weeks, “reckless, irresponsible and merciless” lies have been circulated that have unsettled people. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is at the forefront of this disinformation campaign, Biden said.
During his campaign appearances, Trump had, among other things, spread the conspiracy theory that funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Fema would flow to migrants without legal status in order to persuade them to vote illegally for the Democratic presidential candidate Harris. Biden firmly rejected this. The US President called false claims by Republican MP Marjorie Taylor Greene that the federal government controls the weather “more than ridiculous.”
It’s not often that Biden mentions Trump or other politicians by name in his speeches – this underscores how much the hurricane is becoming a political issue and playing a role in the election campaign. Less than a month before the presidential election on November 5th, polls show a very close race between Harris and Trump. dpa
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