• Florida braces for new hurricane as it recovers from recent chaos
• Milton is now a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 80 mph
• Heavy rains and flash flooding are expected

Florida braces for new hurricane as it recovers from recent chaos 

Florida is once again under threat as Hurricane Milton approaches the Gulf Coast, prompting a state of emergency in 35 counties. The National Hurricane Center confirmed that Milton, now a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 80 mph, could bring life-threatening conditions to parts of Florida’s west coast this week. Heavy rains and flash flooding are expected, with some areas potentially seeing up to 12 inches of rainfall.

This new storm comes just 10 days after the devastating Storm Helene, which killed at least 225 people across the southeast, including 14 in Florida. 

Governor Ron DeSantis has urged residents to prepare, as recovery from Helene continues. The clean-up effort from the previous storm, which caused widespread flooding, road closures, and power outages, is expected to take years. With many roads still blocked, aid efforts remain hampered, compounding the challenges ahead as Milton nears.