193 kilometers per hour: Hurricane “Milton” hits the west coast of Florida

Meteorologists expect heavy rains and dangerous storms. Millions of people were asked to leave their homes and seek safety.

What he feared and expected became a reality: Hurricane Milton reached the west coast of Florida. The storm made landfall on Thursday evening, with winds reaching speeds of 193 kilometers per hour, according to the US Hurricane Center. Shortly before Milton reached the coast, its rating was downgraded from a top Category 5 to a Category 4 and finally to a Category 3. However, given the size of the storm, warnings remained urgent. The area around Tampa is particularly affected.

Milton is now expected to move from Florida's Gulf Coast across the state toward the Atlantic Ocean. Severe damage is also expected off the coast. Hurricanes were already raging in parts of Florida before the hurricane arrived. Water levels rose rapidly as strong winds pushed seawater inland. Meteorologists expected it to be one of the most dangerous storms in the state's history. In addition to high wind speeds, heavy rains and dangerous storms are expected that may cause widespread flooding.

Evacuation of many coastal areas

The authorities ordered the evacuation of several coastal areas. Millions of people were asked to leave their homes and seek safety. Many responded to the call – and there were reports of traffic jams and shortages of fuel and emergency shelters. Finally, authorities asked people to shelter in place (“shelter in place”) because safe evacuation was no longer possible.

Preparations were in full swing until the last minute. The United States government initiated large-scale relief measures to support the affected areas. The Pentagon has mobilized thousands of National Guard troops to assist in rescue operations and aid distribution. Emergency centers have also been established to ensure rapid assistance during and after the storm.

A week and a half ago, Storm Helen caused severe damage in Florida and several other states. More than 200 people died. Due to Milton's arrival, many of those affected in Florida did not have time to recover from the devastation.

Biden: “It appears to be the storm of the century”

Given the impending disaster, US President Joe Biden postponed his scheduled trip to Germany and Angola at short notice. Shortly before the hurricane struck, he again warned of the extreme strength of the storm. “It appears to be the storm of the century,” he said during a meeting with key agency officials. Vice President Kamala Harris also attended the meeting, which was broadcast live. Biden later addressed residents again to warn of the impending dangers.

The US President also touched on the spread of misinformation. In recent weeks, “reckless, irresponsible and heartless” lies have been circulated that have alarmed people. Biden said Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is at the forefront of this disinformation campaign.

During his campaign appearances, Trump, among other things, spread the conspiracy theory that money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would flow to immigrants without legal status in order to persuade them to vote illegally for Democratic presidential candidate Harris. Biden strongly rejected this. The US President described Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's false claims that the federal government controls the weather as “more than ridiculous.”

It is not unusual for Biden to mention Trump or other politicians by name in his speeches, and this highlights the extent to which the hurricane has become a political issue and played a role in the election campaign. Less than a month before the presidential elections scheduled for November 5, opinion polls show intense competition between Harris and Trump. (APA/dpa/red.)