As Floridians continue to survey the damage from Hurricane Milton, they face continued power outages, fuel shortages and traffic jams. A visit by U.S. President Joe Biden brought the promise of additional funding to strengthen the power grid and rebuild the hardest-hit areas.

Florida

Hurricane Milton has made landfall as a Category Three system, causing tornadoes and widespread damage across parts of Florida.

Hurricane Milton

U.S. President Joe Biden has visited Florida, where residents are still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Milton. During his visit, Biden announced new funding aimed at enhancing the state's power grid. This investment is expected to not only restore electricity to affected areas but also improve the resilience of the power system to reduce future outages. Over a million people remain without power, highlighting the urgency of the situation as locals continue rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the storm.

Efforts to restore power involve the work of fifty thousand utility workers, some from as far away as Canada. However, fuel shortages are adding to the challenges faced by Floridians. Many gasoline stations have run dry, leading to long lines and necessitating police intervention to direct traffic. The fuel scarcity poses significant difficulties for businesses and individuals, underscoring the broader impact of the hurricane on daily life.

In addition to power and fuel shortages, Florida is also grappling with tornadoes triggered by Hurricane Milton. Reports indicate that at least six people have died in one community, prompting concerns among residents about the safety and future of living in such a hurricane-prone area. Community support centers have been established to help those affected rebuild their lives, although frustrations persist over the responsiveness of federal, state, and local systems to the widespread devastation.



Biden visits Florida as power outages, fuel shortages persist

Days after Hurricane Milton blew through, Joe Biden touched down in Florida. The president arriving with cash to beef up the state's power grid. This funding will not only restore power, but it will make the region's power system stronger and more capable and reduce the frequency and duration of power outages. A pressing need. More than a million people still without power here, stalling efforts to pick up the pieces of their lives. We haven't had power since before the storm, and it's cooler outside than it is inside. Fifty thousand workers from around the U.S. and as far away as Canada working to get the lights back on. Fuel, another pressing concern for Floridians. Many stations bone dry. Long lines for those that still have gas. Police directing traffic. All the way at the end, first pump. The fuel shortage here more than an inconvenience for some. Trying to service customers who can't get fuel. That's the way life is today. We do what we can. On the other side of the state, people are cleaning up after the tornadoes that came in Milton's wake. It was like a train coming over my roof. At this home, a near miss. Just meters away, a hit. Over on the other side of the fence there, loss of life, right? Yes. Yes. Very sad. And I look at that and I just can't fathom being in a house that has collapsed. At least six people died in that neighboring community, enough to make someone think twice about sticking around. I don't think I'll buy a house and be here permanently. I want to be able to pick up and go. That fear replaced by frustration at this community center, set up to help impacted Floridians get the help they need to rebuild. I'm telling you, it's broken. Our federal, state, and local levels, they're broken. There is much to fix here in Florida, this state reeling from a devastating hurricane season that isn't over yet.

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Hurricane Milton