Washington [US], October 12: At least 16 people have died and 2.5 million people are still without power in the state of Florida (USA) after the super storm Milton swept through the state on the evening of October 9 (local time). On its way, Hurricane Milton brought tornadoes, flooding and heavy rains, and also knocked down trees, power poles and blew away many infrastructures.
The US National Hurricane Center has warned of dangerous flash flooding in parts of Florida, advising people not to venture out even though the storm has weakened. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the state had avoided the "worst-case scenario", but warned that damage was still significant and flooding remained a major concern as the state recorded 18 inches (457 mm) of rain.
Most of the severe damage reported so far has been caused by tornadoes caused by Hurricane Milton, according to Deanne Criswell, head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on October 10. According to the New York Post, citing analysts at Jefferies, Hurricane Milton is likely to cause a total of $245 billion in property damage in the two areas of Tampa and Fort Myers, Florida.
Faced with the situation, US President Joe Biden said on October 10 that FEMA will need additional funding from the US Congress, and called on Congress to convene a meeting to address the need for support for areas in Florida after natural disasters. Since Hurricane Milton made landfall, urban search and rescue teams and the Florida National Guard have rescued nearly 1,000 people and 105 stranded animals. The American Red Cross is currently coordinating with Florida state rescue forces to search for missing residents after the storm. The Red Cross said on October 10 that it is also trying to support 83,000 people taking refuge in temporary shelters in Florida.
Governor DeSantis said about 50,000 crews were working to restore power, especially around the Tampa area, which was hardest hit by Milton . Meanwhile, some ports in Tampa have begun to open to shipping. Orlando International Airport, Florida's busiest airport, said domestic and international flights would resume on October 12. The airport suffered minor damage, with some leaks and downed trees.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper