Hurricane Milton: Florida Cope with Damage and Power Outages

Florida is dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which hit the state overnight. The storm caused widespread flooding and left millions without power. Governor Ron DeSantis reported that search and rescue teams were involved in 125 missions, rescuing 48 people and tragically, 10 lives were lost. The Tampa Bay area was lucky to avoid a major storm surge, but Sarasota County faced up to 10 feet of water in some places. Despite the damage, officials like Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa expressed relief that the city didn't face the worst-case scenario. Hurricane Milton's path has led to estimates of insurance losses ranging from $30 billion to $50 billion, according to Fitch. President Joe Biden urged Congress to address disaster relief funding immediately, noting that while the Federal Emergency Management Agency had sufficient resources, the Small Business Administration was running low.

By Thursday afternoon, the storm's wind speeds had dropped to 75 mph, and it was reclassified as a post-tropical cyclone. Over 3.2 million homes and businesses were without power, and more than 2,000 flights were canceled across the US. Four deaths were reported in St Lucie county due to tornadoes, highlighting the unexpected nature of the storm's impact. Milton is the second hurricane to hit the southern US this season, following Hurricane Helene, which caused significant damage and loss of life. Economists predict that these hurricanes could reduce job growth and economic activity, with the tourism, construction, retail, and energy sectors most affected.

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