Barran Press
Florida is witnessing mass evacuations as Hurricane Milton approaches the state, with predictions that it may reach maximum strength in the coming hours.
Meteorological reports indicate that winds could reach speeds of up to 236 mph (380 km/h), accompanied by torrential rains exceeding 24 inches (600 mm), raising concerns about significant destruction.
On Tuesday, Hurricane Milton was classified as a Category 5 storm, and as it nears Florida's western coast, a palpable sense of panic has urged residents to fortify their homes or evacuate.
Social media footage shows long lines of cars leaving Florida for neighboring states in a desperate bid to escape the impending hurricane, which may become the strongest storm to hit the United States since 1952.
During a press conference on Wednesday, President Joe Biden urged Florida residents to follow safety instructions regarding the hurricane, emphasizing that "this is a matter of life or death, and that is not an exaggeration." He also criticized the spread of misinformation regarding government assistance, calling claims that only $750 would be provided to affected individuals "ridiculous."
Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the administration is "working tirelessly to provide aid" and is collaborating with local authorities to effectively utilize available resources. She noted that approximately 1,000 personnel have been deployed to Florida in preparation for the storm.
Harris urged residents, particularly in the Tampa area, to take the storm seriously, warning that it could be "historic and deadly." She assured that the administration would do everything possible to protect Floridians and aid in recovery efforts, as seen in previous disaster responses.
Biden has postponed planned trips to Germany and Angola to oversee federal response efforts, as rescue operations take center stage in the political arena ahead of the presidential election on November 5.
Hurricane Milton is currently heading toward Florida's western coast, bringing winds that threaten to demolish homes and trigger once-in-a-century floods across some of the state's fastest-growing counties.
The hurricane's wind speeds have slightly decreased to 155 mph (250 km/h), categorizing it as a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, according to Bloomberg News.
The ocean levels in Tampa Bay are expected to rise by up to 15 feet, potentially flooding cities and towns, with power outages anticipated to last days or weeks under these circumstances.
The National Hurricane Center issued a warning at 8 AM Eastern Time on Wednesday, stating that Hurricane Milton is also expected to bring heavy rainfall, with some areas predicted to receive up to 18 inches.