A FEMA team canvasses neighborhoods in Suwannee, Florida, looking for survivors to register for disaster assistance. Picture: Patrick Moore/FEMA
A storm-battered Florida is gearing up for another hurricane even stronger than the last one that destroyed communities and killed more than 230 people
Hurricane Milton quickly strengthened to Category 5 on Monday (all US time) as it heads to Florida’s west coast. Landfall is expected on Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
Some US media reports say Milton is now the strongest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, by both wind and pressure, in nearly two decades.
The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport just outside Tampa, Florida, will close on Tuesday and stay shut on Wednesday and Thursday, officials said.
“The airport is in a mandatory evacuation zone and is not a public shelter,” airport officials tweeted. “Prepare and stay safe.”
Tampa International Airport is suspending operations and will stay closed “until it can assess any damage after the storm,” Tampa airport officials said.
Orlando International Airport will close Wednesday and reopen as soon as it can while Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will close as well.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also tweeted that those given an evacuation order needed to leave immediately.
“Hurricane #Milton is intensifying to record strength. If you’ve received an evacuation order, leave NOW,” he tweeted.
“Stay informed via @FEMA or the FEMA app.”
FEMA SLAMS LIES
The head of the US disaster response agency is pushing back against lies and conspiracy theories even as Hurricane Milton intensified to category 5 on its way to landfall in Florida.
Misinformation has spread over the past week in communities hit the hardest by Hurricane Helene by former US President Donald Trump and other Republicans with the US presidential campaign in its final month.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell talked about her agency’s massive effort that keeps on growing as she urges residents in hard-hit areas to accept government assistance.
“We have thousands of people on the ground, not just federal, but also our volunteers in the private sector,” Criswell said at a news conference in the devastated town of Asheville, North Carolina.
“Frankly, that type of rhetoric is demoralizing to our staff that have left their families to come here and help the people of North Carolina. We will be here as long as they’re needed.”
FEMA even dedicated part of its website to providing accurate answers to questions and addressing rumours on its response to Helene.
