President Joe Biden will be visiting Florida for the second time in just over a week to tour storm-ravaged communities in the aftermath of deadly Hurricane Milton. The state is still grappling with nearly 1 million power outages, gas shortages, and persistent flooding. The President is expected to deliver remarks in St. Petersburg, which was hit hard by both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm and caused widespread devastation, including flooding, destroyed homes, and power outages. At least 17 deaths have been attributed to the storm. The White House has approved a disaster declaration to free up federal funding for affected counties, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs.
Over 958,000 homes and businesses remain without power, with Pinellas County being the hardest hit. The storm continues to wreak havoc, triggering rescues in some areas and forcing residents to stay in their homes due to rising floodwaters.
Initial estimates suggest that the damage from Hurricane Milton could total $50 billion, but could exceed $160 billion when factoring in economic losses. Hurricane Helene, which hit Florida just two weeks prior, caused an estimated $225-250 billion in damage.
President Biden’s itinerary for his Florida visit includes stops in Tampa and St. Petersburg, where he will meet with first responders and deliver remarks. This visit comes just days after his previous trip to Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com