Oct 10, 2024 – Hurricane Milton slammed into the Florida coast on Wednesday, unleashing powerful winds and life-threatening storm surges across a region still recovering from Hurricane Helene just two weeks prior.
Making landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, Milton brought winds of up to 105 miles per hour (165 kilometers per hour), as recorded by the National Hurricane Center. Tornadoes spawned by the hurricane caused widespread damage and led to unconfirmed reports of fatalities at a senior living community on the east coast.
President Joe Biden received updates on Milton’s “initial impacts,” as scrutiny grows over responses from both Democrats and Republicans ahead of the closely watched US presidential election in four weeks. The storm resulted in power outages for at least 1.6 million households and businesses across the state, according to poweroutage.us.
Milton is forecasted to move inland towards the Atlantic Ocean, with Orlando, home to Disney World—which has closed its doors for safety—lying in its path. Residents across Florida’s western coast sought shelter from the storm as torrential rains poured down and fierce winds howled through deserted streets. In Sarasota, glass panes were blown from buildings, and trees swayed perilously close to snapping under the pressure.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged residents who had not evacuated to “stay inside and stay off the roads,” warning of the dangers posed by rising floodwaters and storm surge.
The arrival of Milton follows the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which claimed at least 235 lives and left emergency crews still working tirelessly to deliver relief. Local resident Randy Prior expressed his anxiety, stating, “This is something we just went through with the other storm—ground saturated, still recovering from that.”
As the storm unfolded, former President Donald Trump made controversial claims regarding storm aid, alleging it was diverted away from residents in favour of migrants. President Biden strongly rebuffed these claims, describing them as “an onslaught of lies.” In a related interview, Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the misleading information, asserting that it could prevent desperate individuals from receiving the aid they need.
As climate scientists link global warming to the increasing intensity of storms, Milton serves as yet another reminder of the urgent challenges posed by changing weather patterns.
