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Florida is bracing for another catastrophic storm, Hurricane Milton, as it approaches the state’s west coast with powerful winds and life-threatening storm surges. President Joe Biden on Tuesday issued an urgent call for residents to evacuate, warning that the storm could be the worst natural disaster to strike Florida in a century.
“It’s a matter of life and death, and that’s not hyperbole,” Biden said from the White House. He urged those in evacuation zones to leave immediately, emphasizing, “Evacuate now, now, now.”
Milton, a Category 3 hurricane as of Tuesday, was packing sustained winds of 155 mph (250 kph) and threatening storm surges as high as 15 feet, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm is expected to make landfall near Tampa on Wednesday night, after weakening slightly from a Category 5. Despite this, it remains a major threat, with much of the Florida peninsula under hurricane warnings or watches.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted the widespread danger, listing numerous towns and counties under threat. Airlines have scrambled to add extra flights from major cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Sarasota, while gas stations are running out of fuel as people flee inland.
Political Tensions Amid Crisis
The hurricane response comes during a heated pre-election period. Biden’s appeal for safety followed a controversy where Vice President Kamala Harris criticized former President Donald Trump for spreading false claims about recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene, which hit just weeks earlier. Trump had alleged that disaster funds were diverted to aid migrants, a claim Biden dismissed as “un-American.”
Biden also postponed international travel to oversee federal disaster relief efforts, making the hurricane response a focal point in the lead-up to the November 5 election.
Storm Surge Threat and Preparations
Hurricane expert Michael Lowry warned that Milton could bring storm surges twice as severe as those seen during Hurricane Helene, which caused massive flooding two weeks ago. In response, residents in Tampa have been frantically gathering sandbags, preparing homes for the onslaught.
John Gomez, a 75-year-old resident, ignored evacuation advice and traveled from Chicago to secure his property in Florida. “I think it’s better to be here in case something happens,” he said while waiting to collect sandbags.
Climate Change and Hurricane Intensity
Scientists have linked the increasing intensity of hurricanes to global warming. Warmer ocean waters release more vapor, providing additional fuel for storms, making them more destructive.
Footage released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Tuesday showed dramatic scenes from inside a hurricane surveillance plane, buffeted by strong winds as it collected data on Milton.
Communities still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 230 people and caused widespread devastation across several states, are now racing to clear debris ahead of Milton’s arrival. Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on September 26, was the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
