By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TAMPA BAY/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Joe Biden canceled a trip to Germany and his first visit to Africa as the U.S. president because Hurricane Milton was to hit Florida, where officials warned residents, “You are going to die” if they stayed behind.
The outgoing president was to leave for Berlin, Germany’s capital, on Thursday and then travel to Angola in southern Africa before returning to the United States on October 15.
Yet, as Biden entered the final months of his presidency, he was forced to focus instead on Florida, where thousands of storm-weary residents of the state’s Gulf Coast jammed roads and contended with a fuel shortage.
Emotional meteorologists warned of a Category 5 monster storm, with winds of 165 miles (over 265 kilometers) per hour, prompting one of the largest evacuations in Florida history.
Tampa Bay braced for what could be its first direct hit from a major storm in more than a century as Milton barreled toward the region.
“If you’re going to get out,” Governor Ron DeSantis warned residents at a news conference, “get out now.” Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor stressed that if residents choose to stay, “they are going to die.”
MANDATORY EVACUATION
Florida authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for some parts of Tampa, a metropolitan area of more than three million people that could be directly affected.
A major storm surge was forecast for Florida’s west coast on Tuesday night or early Wednesday, and Tampa could experience an influx of water up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) above ground.
Castor reiterated that if the predicted storm surge hits, then this won’t be survivable.
She pointed out that the storm surge could easily reach “10 to 12 feet” compared to Hurricane Helene’s 6 feet, which caused significant devastation last month.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Milton would retain significant hurricane status and “expand in size” as it approached Florida after passing the Mexican city of Mérida before swerving north towards the United States.
There was also concern that the storm, due to flooding, could move more wildlife from their habitats.
POSING THREAT
Hurricane Helene has already displaced alligators, turtles, and other wildlife in Florida.
Officials said residents who see an alligator should give it space and call authorities if it poses a threat.
With the storm approaching, Christians organized prayer groups, including online. “Psalm 46:1-2 reminds us of God’s presence during times of trouble,” noted the website prayerprompt.org.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,” it added, citing the Bible’s Psalm.
“No matter how intense the storm is, God is our refuge and can protect and guide us through any danger. By turning to Him in prayer, we invite His peace to calm our hearts and His hand to cover and protect those in harm’s way,” added the website, echoing sentiments expressed elsewhere.
Officials said President Biden, a Catholic, was closely watching the situation in the U.S. state. “Given the projected trajectory and strength of Hurricane Milton, President Biden is postponing his upcoming trip to Germany and Angola in order to oversee preparations for and the response to Hurricane Milton,
in addition to the ongoing response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene across the Southeast,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
RELIEF CLASH
It came as presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris and Donald J. Trump clashed over relief to the storm victims ahead of the November elections.
Following Hurricane Helene and with Hurricane Milton barreling toward
FloridaTrump claimed that the White House is diverting disaster relief aid to unrelated migrant programs.
Critics said that while the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
manages grants for housing and helping migrants, it is “a separate account” unrelated to disaster relief funds.
Vice President Harris went after Trump, condemning his “false claims” about FEMA amid devastating storms in the Southeast.
“It’s profound, and it is the height of irresponsibility and, frankly, callousness,” Harris said of Trump’s claims in ABC television’s “The View” program on Tuesday.
“Lives are literally at stake right now.”
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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