Editorial 08.10.24
Much of the American front pages are dominated by the incoming storm – Hurricane Milton – expected to make landfall in the US on Wednesday.
Warnings for Milton come just 10 days after the devastation of Hurricane Helene – the deadliest mainland storm since Katrina in 2005 – battered the US south-east, killing at least 225 people. Hundreds more are missing.
US officials are warning of a possible threat to life posed by Milton as it continues to barrel towards Florida.
‘Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida’
Several headlines report on mass evacuations and delivering supplies to isolated communities.
The Post Herald reports supplies are being rushed to isolated communities, whilst the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports Florida is preparing for the latest storm whilst still clearing debris from the last.
St. Lucie News Tribune is amongst the newspapers to report on the mass evacuations underway in Florida. The Villages Daily Sun leads with a similar headline, reporting that “millions are on the run” as Milton edges closer.
‘Hope is not a plan for a hurricane,’ say some of the papers as they prepare for the historic storm.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune writes “hope is not a plan for a killer hurricane”, a sentiment shared by Pensacola News Journal.
The Advocate notes the storm is “historic” saying Tampa Bay is expected to see the highest-ever storm surge. The Capital says it could be “the worst in a century.”
‘Weary’ Florida exhausted with the recent storms and left with anxiety as they flee again, is a sentiment shared across several publications.
Several papers point out that the state of Florida is “weary” – after already having suffered Hurricane Helene. It is a sentiment shared by The Palm Beach Post as it shows an image of residents boarding up homes and businesses. The paper notes there are mass evacuations underway. The Boston Globe notes residents are filled with anxiety as they flee their homes – not knowing what they will return to.