According to the U. S. National Hurricane Center on October 7, local time news, hurricane”Milton” is rapidly strengthening, has been upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane. Milton is expected to make landfall in the densely populated Florida Tampa Bay Area on the 9th.
Florida, USA, October 6, local time.
Florida emergency management officials have warned that the state could conduct its largest evacuation since 2017 as Milton approaches. Local officials have warned residents to be prepared, to stockpile food and drinking water for at least a week and to be ready to evacuate. Some parts of Florida have issued evacuation orders for patients in hospitals and nursing facilities.
The president declared a state of emergency in Florida
Governor Desantis declared a state of Emergency Monday in 51 counties across the state, including nearly 23 million residents, more than 90 percent of the state’s population.
On October 7, local time, President Biden issued a statement declaring a state of emergency and ordering federal aid, in response to the impact of Hurricane Milton on the state since October 5.
Biden authorized the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, mitigate the impact of the emergency on local residents, and provide appropriate assistance for needed emergency measures.
American Orlando International Airport closed Monday morning
Local time on October 7, the US Orlando International Airport announced that in response to the impact of hurricane “Milton”, the airport will be closed on the morning of 9.
Earlier, the Florida Tampa International Airport announced that it would suspend operations from 9 am on the 8th and be closed to the public.
The U. S. Government is struggling to cope with the onslaught of Hurricanes
According to CBS, the evacuation was even more difficult because of the impact of Hurricane Helene, which had just ended. The Tampa Bay Times reported that the Helene disaster area was in shambles, even as National Guard of the United States helped clear it overnight, but in some cities only about 5% of the work has been done. Pasco County’s chief executive, Kabbala, lamented that the usual post-hurricane clean-up takes two to three months and that it would not be possible to complete the job in just a few days.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is already struggling with the prospect of a Milton.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, presidential candidate Donald Trump wrote on social media that FEMA was “Deliberately blocking relief efforts in republican precincts.”. “These kinds of statements are not good for the people affected,” said FEMA director Criswell. “It’s a shame to put politics ahead of relief,” she added, fEMA is”Fully prepared” to deal with Milton. But the US government says it is”Out of money”.
The Washington Post reported that United States Secretary of Homeland Security Majorcas had made clear earlier this month that the current government budget “Will not survive the hurricane season.”. President Biden said last week that he was ready to call an emergency session to ask Congress for additional funding for hurricane relief.