As dawn broke on Friday, Florida’s residents faced the daunting task of clearing downed trees, restoring power lines, and mopping up flooded neighborhoods after Hurricane Milton ravaged the state, leaving at least 16 people dead. The hurricane’s ferocity brought both physical destruction and a surge of political tensions ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
Despite initial fears, Milton did not unleash the catastrophic surge of seawater that many had dreaded. Still, the aftermath is a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictable power. For some, the path to recovery could span weeks or even months. “It opens your eyes to what Mother Nature can do,” reflected Chase Pierce, a 25-year-old resident of west St. Petersburg, who witnessed transformers explode and power lines collapse in his own backyard.
Analysts predict that Milton, now ranked as the fifth-most-intense Atlantic hurricane on record, could cost insurers up to $100 billion. As the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, the White House has pledged government support to aid in recovery efforts.
However, the disaster has ignited a political storm. Republican Donald Trump, trailing Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in recent polls ahead of the November 5 presidential election, criticized his opponents for their handling of storm recovery efforts. “The federal government… has not done what you are supposed to be doing, in particular, with respect to North Carolina,” Trump stated on Thursday. North Carolina, hard-hit by Hurricane Helene two weeks prior, is a critical battleground where Trump faces a tight race against Harris.
Vice President Harris responded to the criticisms during a town hall event on Univision, decrying the politicization of disaster response. “Sadly, we have seen over the last two weeks, since Hurricane Helene, and now in the immediate aftermath of Milton, where people are playing political games,” she remarked, without directly naming Trump.
The contentious exchange underscores the high stakes of disaster management in political campaigns. Historical precedents like President George W. Bush’s declining approval ratings post-Hurricane Katrina serve as potent reminders of the political implications tied to emergency responses.
The administration of President Joe Biden has indicated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will require additional funding from Congress, currently divided with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats controlling the Senate. The urgency is palpable as lawmakers are urged to reconvene and address the funding needs.
Deadly Tornadoes Compound Tragedy
Florida’s ordeal was compounded by a series of deadly tornadoes, creating a double disaster scenario for many residents. While Hurricane Milton made landfall on the state’s western coast on Wednesday evening, some of the most severe destruction occurred over 160 kilometers away along the eastern shore.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported at least 16 hurricane-related deaths, according to CBS News. In St. Lucie County, preliminary tornadoes claimed several lives, including at least two fatalities in the senior-living Spanish Lakes communities.
Between Siesta Key and Fort Myers Beach, peak water levels soared between 1.5 to three meters above ground level, based on preliminary analyses by the National Hurricane Center. The storm’s impact was widespread, knocking out power to 3.4 million homes and businesses—nearly 30 percent of the state’s tracked customers, as reported by poweroutage.us.
Many residents are still grappling with the loss of essential services, some having already endured days without power since Hurricane Helene struck the area. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned that although the state dodged the “worst-case scenario,” the damage remains significant and recovery will be a lengthy process.
Reference(s):
Florida counts cost of Hurricane Milton amid political storm
cgtn.com
