Florida in hurricane fever: Milton threatens coastal cities with destruction!

Florida in hurricane fever: Milton threatens coastal cities with destruction!

Florida is again on the highest alert, since the hurricane “Milton” has dramatically gained strength on the west coast of the state. With top speeds of up to 285 kilometers per hour, he has put the weaker hurricanes in the shade of the past few weeks. Meteorologists warn that “Milton” will hit the golf coast on Wednesday, possibly in category 3, which brings the region into acute danger.

The national hurricane center has already announced that “Milton” has the potential to become one of the most destructive storms in the history of Florida. The population in risk areas, especially in cities such as Naples, Fort Meyers and Tampa, is urgently asked to get to safety. In a clear warning, the Mayor of Tampa, Jane Castor: "You will disappear as soon as possible. Don't wait."

Current situation and measures

The preparations for “Milton” are in full swing, while the state still has to deal with the aftermath of the previous hurricane “Helene”. This had raged in Florida about a week and a half ago and still leads to considerable damage. The floods caused by “Helene” have already hit many communities and brought state resources to their limits.

Airports in the entire state have announced that they will soon stop air traffic. The airport in Tampa plans to close its gates on Tuesday, followed by the airport in Orlando on Wednesday. US President Joe Biden has proclaimed the emergency for Florida to release federal funds to support the affected regions. The White House has assured its support for the people in Florida, which is considered urgently necessary in view of the impending danger of "Milton".

In addition to the physical dangers that “Milton” brings, political actors such as the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump use the situation for campaign purposes. He accused bidges not to do enough for the victims of the past storms, while bids and his vice president Kamala Harris traveled to the disaster areas to get an idea of the situation. Biden plans to visit Germany this week, but it is unclear whether something will change due to the current events on these plans, as the spokeswoman for the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre, indicated.

Why is “Milton” so dangerous?

The dangers that come from Hurricane “Milton” should not be underestimated. In addition to the incredible wind speeds, storm surges are expected that can reach water levels of up to five meters. This could even put dry areas under water near the coast. At a time when the weather becomes more extreme, the likelihood of strong storms has risen from global warming. Experts indicate that climate change and rising water temperatures increase the pressure on the already affected coastal regions.

The hurricane season is still active until the end of November. While the storms are named in alphabetical order, it remains to be seen how many other natural disasters Florida could meet this season. “Helene” already left fatal traces and destruction in several states, with reports that over 200 people were killed in various areas.

The most urgent measures to prepare for “Milton” now focus on evacuations and ensuring that the communities are adequately prepared to survive the storm. Numerous municipalities have set up emergency accommodations and call the people to participate in information events to find out more about the correct emergency measures and evacuation routes.