President Joe Biden is visiting Florida today to tour communities impacted by Hurricane Milton.
During the visit, the president is expected to announce more than $600m in funding for projects for electric grid resilience, to help the state become better equipped to deal with future storms.
With the storm also impacting fuel delivery, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the state is also offering free gasoline at state fuel depots.
So far, at least 17 people have been confirmed dead as a result of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday night, spawning dozens of tornadoes, 28ft waves, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and devastating storm surge.
Six people in St Lucie County retirement village were killed by tornadoes brought on by the hurricane after a dozen twisters spawned in the region within 20 minutes.
While Floridians return home to survey the damage to their communities, officials are warning that major flooding could still hit north of Tampa.
As of Sunday morning, more than 900,000 homes were still without power in Florida, with those in the west-central region the worst impacted. Damage from the storm is estimated to have cost upwards of $160bn.
Hurricane Milton’s impact on wildlife
Hurricane Milton didn’t just impact Florida’s human residents. It also caused massive disruptions for the state’s famous wildlife.
Species like long-winged sooty terns and firgatebirds were blown hundreds of miles outside of their usual range, into states like Indiana and Kentucky.
Hurricane Helene, meanwhile, interrupted the migration of over 100 million birds, The Washington Post reports.
Josh Marcus14 October 2024 00:24
Hurricane Milton’s impact on wildlife
Hurricane Milton didn’t just impact Florida’s human residents. It also caused massive disruptions for the state’s famous wildlife.
Species like long-winged sooty terns and firgatebirds were blown hundreds of miles outside of their usual range, into states like Indiana and Kentucky.
Hurricane Helene, meanwhile, interrupted the migration of over 100 million birds, The Washington Post reports.
Josh Marcus14 October 2024 00:24
Pictures: The ongoing aftermath of Hurricane Milton
Josh Marcus13 October 2024 23:12
Floridians selling pieces of Tropicana Field roof on eBay
In a bizarre twist, Florida residents have taken to eBay to begin auctioning off pieces of Tropicana Field, the Tampa Bay Rays baseball stadium whose roof was ripped off during Hurricane Milton.
Pieces of the roof and outfield turf are selling for prices between $150 and a whopping $1000, USA Today reports.
More details on what happened to the stadium in our full story.
Josh Marcus13 October 2024 22:00
Biden announces $612m electric grid investments during visit to survey Hurricane Milton damage in Florida
President Joe Biden anounced $612m funding for investments in the electric grid, including $94m for storm-battered Florida, during a visit Sunday to the Sunshine State to survey the damage from Hurricane Milton.
“Moments like this we come together to take care of each other – not as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans,” Biden said during remarks in St. Pete Beach. Such projects will form a part of the state’s long-term recovery from Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which raged over the state over a period of less than two weeks between late September and this Wednesday, when Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm.
At least 23 people in Florida are dead as a result of Milton.
The fallen include a woman crushed by a tree in her bedroom in Ormond Beach, an 89-year-old who had a cardiac emergency as paramedics were unable to answer calls, and an Orange County man electrocuted while cleaning post-storm detritus, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
More details in our full story.
Josh Marcus13 October 2024 21:00
Milton death toll now at 23
At least 23 people have died as a result of Hurricane Milton, according to reporting from the Tampa Bay Times.
The dead include an older woman crushed by a tree in Ormond Beach, an 89-year-old who suffered a cardiac emergency as parademics stopped responding to calls, and an Orange County man electrocuted whil cleaning up post-storm debris.
The state has also rescued more than 1,000 people stranded in homes and other buildings, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said yesterday.
Josh Marcus13 October 2024 19:59
Meanwhile in Asheville, weeks without running water
As Florida picks up the pieces after Hurricane Milton, North Carolina is still reeling from Hurricane Helene.
The hard-hit city of Asheville still doesn’t have running water, and 40,000 customers remain without electricity in the western part of the state.
There are 93 storm-related deaths in the state, North Carolina officials said on Sunday.
Josh Marcus13 October 2024 19:00
Pictures: Biden visits Florida to inspect hurricane damage
Josh Marcus13 October 2024 18:00
Biden announces $612m funding for projects
Biden has announced $612m funding for projects for electric grid resilience, to help prepare for future major storms.
The $612m will be spent on six new cutting-edge projects to support communities.
This includes $94m for projects specifically in Florida, including $47m to Gainesville Regional Utilities and $47m to Switched Source to partner with Florida Power and Light.
Rachel Sharp13 October 2024 17:00
‘We are one United States’ : Biden speaks of united response to Hurricane Milton
Biden spoke of Americans coming together in response to Hurricane Milton.
“Moments like this we come together to take care of each other – not as Democrats or Republicans but as Americans,” he said.
“Americans who need help, Americans who would help you if you were in a similar situation. We are one United States. One United States.”
Rachel Sharp13 October 2024 16:52