Hurricane Milton is ploughing across Florida after slamming into the state’s western coast on Wednesday, bringing life-threatening flooding and leaving millions without power.
The cyclone made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County as a category three storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds of 120mph, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Hurricane Milton batters Florida
Hurricane Milton batters Florida, bringing deadly tornadoes and floods, and leaving more than two million homes and businesses without power. Millions flea from the path of the Tornado, but hundreds are trapped.
- Deaths have been confirmed in St Lucie County on Florida’s east coast – the number is unclear
- The state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, says around 125 homes – many of them mobile – have been destroyed
- The hurricane, which was category five, has been downgraded to category one – but is still wreaking havoc
The Hurricane will continue through Florida Today
It is forecast to remain at hurricane strength as it moves across central Florida on Thursday towards the Atlantic Ocean.
The NHC warned that the storm would bring “devastating rains and damaging winds”, with “life-threatening” gusts, tornadoes and storm surges of up to 13ft that could inundate urban areas with flash flooding. As the raging Hurricane Milton batters Florida for a second day.
No drinking water for people in St Petersburg
People in the Florida say they have no drinking water for people in St Petersburg, after officials were forced to shut down the system due to hurricane damage.
Officials say the shutdown is expected to last “until the necessary repairs can be completed” and this can only be done when it is safe for crews to be outside, the statement says.
TIP– All residents have been advised to boil any water used for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth.
2.6m homes and business without power
More than 2.6 million homes and businesses are without power across Florida, according to the latest data.
There’s also a knock-on effect on other states – about 70,000 customers are without power in North Carolina and 37,000 in Georgia.
Biden’s response to hurricane Milton has been criticised
Biden’s response to hurricane Milton has been criticised even from within his own party. President Joe Biden says thousands of military personnel are on the ground in Florida ready to help victims of Hurricane Milton. He spoke from the White House, but critics have suggested he has not done too little, too late.
President Biden had weeks worth of warning on the hurricane and did not deploy the military fast enough. It has caused deaths that could have been avoided.
Instead he has been busy playing politics, using this as an opportunity to attack Republicans.
“Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman from Georgia, is now saying the federal government is literally controlling the weather, we’re controlling the weather. It’s beyond ridiculous. It’s so stupid. It’s got to stop,”
Biden said in televised remarks at the White House.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency set up a website to deal with the influx of rumors spreading about the hurricanes, including the false claim that FEMA is redirecting disaster relief toward migrants.
Trump spreading false news
It follows Trump saying money allocated for disaster relief was being reallocated to housing for migrants, we have verified that those statements were false.
Harris warns against price gouging
Harris warned against companies – or individuals – seeking to profiteer from the storm and its aftermath by exploiting “people who are desperate for help”.
“Whether it be at the gas pump, the airport or the hotel counter, be aware that we are monitoring these behaviours and the situation on the ground very closely,” she said.
“Anyone taking advantage of consumers will be held accountable,” the Democratic presidential nominee warned.