Biden: Hurricane Milton caused $50 billion in damage 12 October 2024

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday that, according to experts, Hurricane Milton caused $50 billion in damage. On Sunday, the American leader is scheduled to travel to Florida to visit the areas most affected by the hurricane. This was reported by The Guardian, according to UNN.

Details

The deadly storm caused tornadoes and hit central Florida, and then traveled overland for a distance of approximately 280 km from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, at least 16 people died as a result of the hurricane.

However, it is noted that the worst fears about this terrible hurricane were not justified, and it entered and left the state much faster than originally expected.

“Milton made landfall less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene hit northwest Florida and remained as a tropical storm. The death toll unexpectedly rose to 230, the highest since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, and caused damage from flooding and strong winds in 10 states.

Hurricane Milton in the United States has weakened to Category 110.10.24, 09:58 • 10228 views

“Milton, which touched down in Florida on Wednesday, destroyed about 150 homes, left more than 3.3 million people without power, tore the roof off a baseball stadium and toppled a 500-foot construction crane.

On Friday afternoon, about 2 million people were still without electricity.

A 14-year-old boy was rescued after he was found floating on a piece of fence, and a Coast Guard helicopter rescued a man floating on an ice chest separated from his boat in the Gulf of Mexico.

Coast Guard rescues man clinging to refrigerator off Florida coast11.10.24, 11:38 • 11704 views

Biden said that the government is “providing all the resources necessary” to deal with the aftermath of the storm and thanked rescuers, power line workers, state and local officials, as well as other workers and volunteers who are helping with recovery efforts.

Federal authorities have said that there are enough resources to cope with Milton and Helene, but the money could run out by the end of the hurricane season, which could last until the end of November.

On Friday, Biden said he would ask the US Congress for additional funds. The president urged lawmakers to return to Washington to allocate additional funds to help the victims. He said he had not yet spoken to House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, about this, ABC News reported.

Recall 

The October 12 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group has been postponed due to Hurricane Milton in the United States. President Biden canceled his visit to Germany, and a new date for the meeting will be announced later.