By Trevor Hunnicutt
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Florida on Sunday to survey harm from Hurricane Milton, the second storm to hit the low-lying state in latest weeks at the same time as flood waters maintain rising.
Milton, which led to at the least 17 reported deaths, has added to piles of particles following Hurricane Helene, with electrical energy and gasoline nonetheless unavailable in lots of areas.
Biden’s administration had authorized federal assist to assist residents and native governments cowl bills.
The president is scheduled to reach in Tampa at 9:30 a.m. (1330 GMT) and can take an aerial tour of affected areas on his strategy to St. Petersburg, the place he might be briefed by federal, state and native officers in St. Pete Seaside.
He may even meet with first responders and native residents earlier than delivering public remarks.
Extra gasoline distribution websites are scheduled to open on Sunday, in line with the state’s emergency operations heart.
Flooding is anticipated to proceed across the Tampa Bay and the Sanford space northeast of Orlando as river waters proceed to rise, in line with the Nationwide Climate Service’s web site.
Local weather change has been linked to stronger and quicker hurricanes, with the 2 latest back-to-back storms pummeling Florida elevating questions of infrastructure resiliency at the same time as many residents vow to remain put.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stated he was not inclined to stop individuals from rebuilding in weak areas.
Whereas Milton was not as damaging as officers had initially forecast, analysts have estimated insured losses for between $30 billion and $60 billion.
