After assessing damaged communities and debris-strewn streets in Florida, U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged continued support for the state’s recovery from Hurricane Milton, which marks the second major storm to impact the region in recent weeks.
Rising floodwaters, fuel shortages, and power outages are obstructing cleanup efforts from the storm that made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, leaving residents grappling to rebuild their lives amidst the compounded destruction caused by both Milton and the earlier Hurricane Helene.
Residents of severely affected St Pete Beach are “heartbroken and exhausted,” with expenses mounting, Mr. Biden remarked following his tour of the barrier island’s neighborhoods.
Street corners were cluttered with debris, fallen palm trees, and damaged pastel-painted garage doors, while the air was filled with the scent of moldy construction materials.
One photo album lay strewn across the street.
“Help,” read a plea from a resident to Mr. Biden, inscribed on a heap of ruined household items.
“I recognize your concern about debris removal, and it’s clear why,” the president stated in front of a collapsed beach house that had been lifted from its foundation. “There’s much more work to be done. We’re doing everything we can.”
Joe Biden delivered remarks in front of a home heavily impacted by Storm Milton in St Pete Beach, Florida.
Meanwhile, flooding is anticipated to persist around the Tampa Bay area and the Sanford region northeast of Orlando as river levels continue to rise, according to the National Weather Service’s website.
Approximately 75% of Florida’s power has been restored, with complete restoration expected by Tuesday evening, said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who accompanied Mr. Biden.
As of five days post-storm, around 927,000 customers remain without power, according to the PowerOutage.us website.
Additionally, more gasoline distribution sites are slated to open today, as reported by the state’s emergency operations center.
Nonetheless, recovery is projected to take considerable time due to the two storms striking within a fortnight of each other.
Mr. Biden’s visit provided a bird’s eye view of the devastation as his helicopter roared along Florida’s western coast from Tampa to St Petersburg, passing over a landscape of golf courses, waterfront skyscrapers, and devastated neighborhoods, including the shredded roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
“It’s still a mess,” Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert told ABC News’ This Week program, adding, “it’s been uplifting to witness the outpouring of support and assistance that people have been offering.”
At least 17 fatalities have been reported due to Milton, significantly fewer than the over 200 lives claimed by Helene, partly attributed to what officials noted as increased compliance with evacuation orders.
Debris cluttered the streets during President Biden’s visit to St Pete Beach, Florida.
Milton induces losses exceeding $30 billion
Climate change has been associated with more intense and rapid hurricanes, and the recent back-to-back storms affecting Florida raise concerns about infrastructure resilience, even as many residents vow to remain in place.
Although Milton was not as destructive as initially projected, analysts anticipate insured losses to range between $30 billion and $60 billion.
Joe Biden’s administration has approved federal assistance to help residents and local governments manage expenses but stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will require additional funding from Congress, despite having sufficient resources to address immediate storm needs.
He also announced $612 million for six new utility projects in the affected communities.
Mr. Biden, a Democrat, reiterated his appeal for politicians—who are on recess until after the November 5 election—to return to Washington to authorize additional FEMA funding, stressing the need for swift Congressional action: “It’s important.”
St Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila, speaking alongside Mr. Biden, reiterated the call for support: “We’re concerned about the future of our town… We need ongoing federal resources, and we require a pathway to ensure our community and all others affected can emerge stronger than before.”
An aerial view depicting the damage caused by Storm Milton in Port St Lucie, Florida.
However, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson resisted appeals from the White House and state politicians for more disaster assistance, stating on NBC News’ Meet the Press program: “The states have to go and calculate and assess the need and then they submit that to Congress, and that takes some time.”
Relief efforts have also been complicated by a stream of misinformation, including conspiracy theories regarding officials manipulating the weather.
Politics has infiltrated recovery efforts with just three weeks remaining until the presidential election.
A number of local officials met or accompanied Mr. Biden on his tour, including Florida Republican U.S. Representative Anna Luna.
The state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, declined the White House invitation, and Mr. Biden stated that he did not have a conversation with Mr. DeSantis.
