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Hurricane Milton costs Florida billions in damage and wreaks havoc on countless lives

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Recovery efforts are continuing in central Florida, as the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton becomes clear.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden surveyed the devastation, saying he was thankful the damage from the storm was not as severe as officials had anticipated. He did, however, make clear that it was very much a “cataclysmic” event for people caught in Milton’s path, which has been blamed for at least 11 deaths and is strongly indicative of a worsening climate crisis.

Days after the storm hit, 500,000 homes and business in Florida remain without electricity, according to Poweroutage.us, and fuel shortages are ongoing.

While recovery efforts are gaining steam, experts warn that a full rebound will take far longer.

Karen and Burton Webb, whose property was washed through by Hurricane Milton surge, find pieces of their furniture a block from their house, in Englewood, Florida on Sunday Rebecca Blackwell/The AP

 

What is involved in the recovery efforts in storm-hit Florida?

Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis has cautioned that debris removal could take up to a year, despite the fact that Florida authorities have dispatched nearly 3,000 workers to the cleanup.

Despite rarely agreeing with Joe Biden, DeSantis also confirmed that the President has approved 100 per cent federal reimbursement for those efforts for at least 90 days.

“The (removal of) debris has to be 24/7 over this 90-day period,” DeSantis said while standing next to a pile of furniture, lumber and other debris in Treasure Island, an island city near St. Petersburg that has been battered by both Hurricane Milton and Helene which hit just a few weeks before.

Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, tearing across the centre of the state, flooding barrier islands and spawning deadly tornadoes. Officials say the toll could have been worse if not for the widespread evacuations.

Overall, more than a thousand people had been rescued in the wake of the storm as of Saturday, DeSantis said.

Ron DeSantis, centre, takes questions during a news conference in front of a St. Lucie County Sheriff’s parking facility in Florida after Milton hit Wilfredo Lee/The AP

 

National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Close said rivers will continue to rise for several days and result in flooding, mostly around Tampa Bay and northwards. Those areas got the most rain, which came on top of a wet summer that included several hurricanes.

Meanwhile, countless residents unable to move back into their damaged homes are continuing to make other arrangements – although it hasn’t been easy for many.

Many Floridians journeying home after fleeing hundreds of miles to escape the storm, spent much of the weekend searching for gas as a fuel shortage gripped the state.

In St. Petersburg alone, scores of people lined up at a station that had no gas, hoping it would arrive soon.

DeSantis told reporters on Saturday that the state had opened three fuel distribution sites and planned to open several more. The governor also announced that residents are entitled to 10 gallons (37.85 litres) each, free of charge.

“Obviously as power gets restored… you’re going to see the fuel flowing. But in the meantime, we want to give people another option,” he said.

Officials were also replenishing gas stations with the state’s fuel stockpiles and providing generators to stations that remained without power.

Law enforcement members help a motorist that ran out of fuel while waiting for in line for fuel at a depot on Saturday in Plant City, Florida Chris O’Meara/The AP

 

How is the United States preparing for the rest of hurricane season?

On Sunday, President Biden surveyed hurricane damage on a helicopter flight between Tampa and St. Pete Beach on the Gulf Coast.

From the air, he saw the torn-up roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. On the ground, the president saw waterlogged household furnishings piled up outside flooded homes; other houses had collapsed.

Biden praised the first responders, some of whom had come from Canada.

“It’s in moments like this we come together to take care of each other, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans,” he said.

Biden also announced $612 million (€560m) for six Department of Energy projects in hurricane-affected areas to bolster the region’s electric grid. That figure includes $47 million (€43m) for Gainesville Regional Utilities and $47 million (€43m) for Switched Source to partner with Florida Power and Light.

With a little more than three weeks before the presidential election, the hurricanes have added another dimension to the closely contested presidential race.

President Joe Biden speaks in front of a damaged building in St. Pete Beach, Florida during a tour of areas affected by Hurricane Milton on Sunday Manuel Balce Ceneta/The AP

Republican nominee Donald Trump has said the Biden administration’s storm response was lacking, particularly in western North Carolina after Helene. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have criticised Trump for promoting falsehoods about the federal response.

Biden said Trump was “not singularly” to blame for the spread of misinformation – but that he has the “biggest mouth.”

“They blame me for everything. It’s OK,” Trump told Fox News.

Biden has pressed for Congress to act quickly to make sure the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have the money they need to get through hurricane season, which tends to come to an end on 30 November in the Atlantic Ocean.

On Friday, he said that Milton alone had caused an estimated $50 billion (€45b) in damages.

On Saturday, Moody’s Analytics estimated that economic costs from the storm will be closer to $85 billion (€77b), including upwards of $70 billion (€64b) in property damage and an economic output loss of up to $15 billion (€13b).

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, whose department oversees FEMA, said the hurricane season is far from over and there are other natural disasters for which the agency must prepare.

“We don’t know what’s coming tomorrow, whether it’s another hurricane, a tornado, a fire, an earthquake. We have to be ready” Mayorkas told CBS.

As the recovery continues, Governor DeSantis has warned people to be cautious, citing ongoing safety threats including downed power lines and standing water.

Residents walk past a damaged home and the displaced roof of their 55+ mobile home community’s tiki hut after the passage of Hurricane Milton in Englewood, Florida on Sunday Rebecca Blackwell/The AP

 

How did climate change impact Milton?

Human-caused climate change gave a significant boost to Milton, intensifying the storm’s rainfall by 20 per cent to 30 per cent and strengthening its winds by about 10 per cent, scientists have announced.

World Weather Attribution researchers said that, without climate change, a hurricane like Milton would make landfall as a weaker Category 2, which is not considered a “major” storm, instead of a Category 3, which it was eventually categorised as.

Climate change also boosted Helene’s wind and rain. The two storms made an otherwise unusually quiet Atlantic hurricane season roar to life.

Scientists also warn that the season is far from over. So far, five hurricanes have made landfall in the US – and the record is six.

Jeff Masters, meteorologist for Yale Climate Connections, said the record may be matched since tropical cyclone activity is expected to be above-average for the rest of October and November.

 

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I Will Pay Full Compensation To Families Of 16 Hunters K!lled In Edo State – Governor Okpebholo.

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The Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured the families of the 16 hunters killed in Uromi that he will provide full compensation for their loss.

Governor Okpebholo, accompanied by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other high-ranking dignitaries, paid a condolence visit to Torankawa in Bunkure Local Government Area. During the visit, he further pledged to support the bereaved families with cash and food donations.

Lamenting the killings of the innocent victims, Okpebholo, visibly angry, vowed in the village that the gruesome murders would not go unpunished.

“We will ensure that justice is served on those responsible for this heinous act,” he stated.

Meanwhile, hundreds of family members and supporters took to the streets in a peaceful protest, carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “We demand justice for the killings of our people,” “Hunters are not criminals,” and “We demand the speedy dispensation of justice in this matter.”

Protesters thronged the road leading to Torankawa village, voicing their demands. Many hunters, armed with their hunting weapons, joined the peaceful demonstration.

Similarly, other placards bore inscriptions such as “Killings in the North must stop,” “Northerners are peace-loving citizens,” and “Justice must prevail.”

Some hunters, visibly agitated, chanted war songs, brandishing weapons as the governor’s convoy passed, while local residents kept the situation under control.

 

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All Soludo Support Group (ASSG) has made a significant donation of N30million to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, demonstrating their confidence in his leadership and commitment to his re-election bid.

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The All Soludo Support Group (ASSG) has made a significant donation of N30million to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, demonstrating their confidence in his leadership and commitment to his re-election bid.

This donation is specifically intended to cover the cost of the APGA governorship candidate form, and it’s a testament to the governor’s popularity and the group’s enthusiasm for his continued leadership.

According to ekwutosblog, this donation is a significant boost to Soludo’s campaign, reflecting the widespread support he enjoys among his constituents.

Governor Soludo’s administration has been praised for its development initiatives and human-oriented policies, which have transformed Awka into a world-class capital city.

The ASSG’s donation is the latest in a series of endorsements and support for Governor Soludo’s re-election bid.

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We’re working on new 2025 budget for Rivers – Sole Administrator Ibas

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The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has announced that a 2025 budget is being prepared to enhance healthcare delivery, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Speaking on Thursday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, while receiving a delegation of the Rivers State caucus at the National Assembly, Ibas stated that the anticipated budget would also focus on creating more employment opportunities for the people of Rivers State and advancing technological development in critical areas of public life.

The delegation was led by Senator Barinada Mpigi, representing Rivers South-East District.

Other members included Senator Allwell Onyesoh and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda. The rest are honourables Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Godwin Hart, Blessing Amadi, Felix Nwaeke, Kelechi Nwogu, and Victor Obuzor.

The sole administrator emphasised that since assuming office, he has remained committed to restoring law and order in Rivers State, with the support of security agencies.

Ibas reiterated his administration’s commitment to making Rivers State a model of peace among states, with a stable economy and an environment where citizens can pursue their livelihoods without fear or intimidation.

He highlighted the importance of the lawmakers’ support as key representatives of Rivers State in the National Assembly, calling for their assistance in securing the necessary resources and legislative backing to bring his administration’s initiatives to fruition.

He said: “Since the Supreme Court verdict on the state’s budget, we have acted swiftly and decided to put together a new budget that reflects our commitment to healthcare, education, social services, and continued infrastructural development.

“We have worked diligently to ensure that the process is transparent, inclusive, and, most importantly, expedited.

“Our goal is to ensure that we do not lose any more time in making the necessary investments that will improve the lives of citizens.

“The budget, which is being finalised, focuses on creating job opportunities and investing in key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and technology.

“We understand the urgency of this initiative, and we are committed to ensuring that it is implemented without delay.”

According to Ibas, the people of Rivers State have demonstrated resilience in the ongoing efforts to restore peace and uphold the rule of law.

He assured that his administration remains committed to achieving lasting peace in the state.

In his remarks, Senator Mpigi assured that members of the National Assembly caucus would support all efforts aimed at bringing development to the state.

Notable National Assembly members absent at the meeting include the immediate past Deputy Governor, Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, and Hon. Boma Goodhead.

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