Hurricane Milton claimed the lives of at least 14 people and left a path of destruction as it passed through Florida (United States), which recorded deadly tornadoes, severe flooding and where 2.9 million users are still without electricity, in addition to causing damage estimated at up to 60 billion dollars (around 55 billion euros). However, authorities and those affected are breathing with some relief because “it could have been worse,” according to Michael, a Fort Myers resident who evacuated before the hurricane arrived, told EFE.
Milton, who threat of storm surge remainshit central Florida with torrential rain and strong winds, after making landfall on the state’s west coast Wednesday evening as a major Category 3 hurricane, with winds up to 205 kilometers per hour ( 120 miles). Deadly tornadoes, flooding, millions without power Six of the deaths occurred in St. Lucie County on the Treasure Coast, the result of Milton-related tornadoes that forced the issuance of 116 tornado warnings, governor says of State, Ron DeSantis.
Milton, now becoming an extratropical phenomenon, it left Florida after crossing the state from west to east, although experts warn the east coast could still see heavy rain and storm surge.
US President Joe Biden said today that heThe measures implemented to save lives “made a difference”but warned that it was still too early to assess the full damage caused by the hurricane. Biden also urged his predecessor in office and current Republican White House nominee, Donald Trump, to abandon misinformation about the government’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “Get a life, man. Help these people,” Biden said, speaking directly to Trump during an appearance at the White House.
The National Weather Service had to declare a Flash flood emergency in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, on the west-central coast of Florida, due to the intense rains recorded, with accumulated precipitation of more than 43 centimeters and powerful winds that uprooted trees and roofs. Flooding forced emergency crews to rescue nearly half a thousand residents trapped at a Pinellas County apartment complex in boats and special vehicles.
casei 7.3 million Floridians Residents of fifteen counties were ordered to mandatory evacuationan evacuation reinforced by the message that it was “a matter of life and death,” as Biden conveyed on Wednesday. Damage claims after Milton passes along Florida’s Gulf Coast could impact insurers between $50 billion and $60 billion, according to industry estimates, which are prepared to absorb those figures, according to industry estimates. different estimates provided namely this Thursday. This cost will, however, have repercussions on the global insurance sector, notes Insurance Business magazine, which brings this figure to 60 billion dollars.
Fines for price speculators
With more than 3 million homes and buildings still without power, authorities announced fines of up to $25,000 for speculators and created a special hotline for complaints. The move follows warnings of price manipulation and commodity hoarding that began before the hurricane arrived.
Likewise, the authorities are work quickly to restore power to millions of customers and replenish the fuel supply, DeSantis said Thursday at a news conference in St. Lucia. “Luckily, in Florida, we’re preparing 50,000 power line installers across the state,” DeSantis said, emphasizing, “The bottom line is we need to keep bringing in fuel.”
Gas stations without fuel
Most gas stations in areas most exposed to the impact of the hurricane, such as Tampa Bay, are now short of fuel or without gasoline, as hundreds of thousands of people have filled up their tanks to evacuate by road. .
Milton leaves a state ravaged by severe flooding from rain, destruction, deaths and the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people, while trying to recover from the damage caused by Helene, which entered the northeast west Florida on September 26 as a Category 4 hurricane.
Helene left more than 230 dead and dozens missing, becoming the deadliest hurricane in the United States since Katrina in 2005. As Florida counts the damage caused by Milton, the hurricane has now become a extratropical phenomenon in the waters of the Atlantic, 320 kilometers to the east. northeast of Cape Canaveral on the west coast of Florida.
