USA Florida prepares for "Milton" - Biden changes travel plans

In the US state of Florida, preparations for the approaching hurricane "Milton" are in full swing: millions of people have been told to get to safety.

Many are barricading their homes and preparing for the worst. The storm, which is expected to hit the west coast of Florida on Wednesday evening (local time), could become one of the most dangerous in the state's history.

The US government has initiated comprehensive relief measures. President Joe Biden postponed his planned visit to Germany in order to focus on the crisis. The election campaign is also being affected by the extreme weather: Florida and other states are still struggling with the destruction left behind by storm "Helene" a week and a half ago. This provides the Republicans with a target for accusing the government under Democrat Biden of failing to respond adequately.

After the passage of "Milton" off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, around 90,000 households in the area suffered power outages and some flooding. Trees toppled over. There were no fatalities, said the governor of the Mexican state of Yucatán, Joaquín Díaz.

Preparing for the worst

The storm "Milton", classified as the highest hurricane category 5, poses major challenges for the emergency services in Florida. Although it is forecast to weaken before it makes landfall, its enormous size continues to harbor considerable potential for destruction - especially in the region around the coastal metropolis of Tampa. The Pentagon announced that thousands of National Guardsmen had been mobilized. Helicopters and flood-capable vehicles are on standby for rescue operations. Emergency centers throughout the state have been stocked with supplies to provide rapid assistance immediately after the storm.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a strong appeal to the population to take the evacuation instructions seriously. However, many who wanted to leave the area encountered difficulties: CNN reported traffic jams, fuel shortages and fully booked hotels. Numerous airports suspended operations. The US government issued a warning to airlines after reports of extortionate prices made the rounds on social media. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that he would monitor this closely.

Biden postpones visit to Germany

Due to the threat of the hurricane, Biden postponed a planned trip to Germany and Angola indefinitely. Talks with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz were planned in Berlin. Biden was also due to take part in a Ukraine summit he had convened at the US airbase in Ramstein. It is uncertain how the meeting, which is expected to be attended by representatives from around 50 NATO states and other allies of Ukraine, will now take place. The Pentagon confirmed that Biden would not be attending in person, but left open whether the summit would be postponed or take place without him.

Election campaign with extreme weather

The fact that Biden postponed his trip abroad is probably not only due to the immediate threat posed by Hurricane Milton, but also to the importance of his actions in the US election campaign. People in Florida are still struggling with the devastating damage caused by storm "Helene". Just a week and a half ago, the storm hit the north-west coast of Florida, causing severe devastation and flooding in several states. According to media reports, more than 200 people lost their lives.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump quickly used the disaster for his election campaign and criticized Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for not having reacted sufficiently. Harris, who is running against Trump in the presidential election on November 5, has traveled to the affected areas several times with Biden to assess the situation on the ground and assure the victims of support.

Climate change intensifies storms

"Milton" has the potential to become one of the most destructive hurricanes ever recorded in this region, warned the National Hurricane Center, urgently pointing out that normally dry coastal areas could be flooded by rising sea levels. Life-threatening storm surges with waves up to five meters high, destructive winds and heavy rainfall are to be expected. There is also a risk of tornadoes.

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters. According to experts, global warming increases the likelihood of stronger storms. The hurricane season in the Atlantic lasts from June to the end of November. The storms are named in alphabetical order.

SDA