On October 11, 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 hurricane, leading to severe flooding and deadly tornadoes. At least 16 fatalities have been reported as a result of the storm, with many areas still grappling with rising water levels.
As of Friday, more than 2 million households and businesses across Florida remained without power. Duke Energy announced that it expects to take at least four more days to restore electricity to many customers, with some areas not receiving power until October 15.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the ongoing risks, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel to survey damage. Local and federal rescue teams have begun cleanup operations, while President Biden announced plans to visit Florida on Sunday to coordinate flood relief efforts.
This disaster has become a focal point in the U.S. election campaign, with Biden responding to criticism from political opponents regarding the federal response to the hurricane's aftermath.