Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified on Monday, escalating to a potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm headed toward Florida, putting the state at risk of experiencing a second powerful hurricane within just two weeks.
The back-to-back hurricanes have ignited a political firestorm in the United States, with Vice President Kamala Harris criticizing her White House opponent Donald Trump and Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis for engaging in “political gamesmanship” and spreading misinformation regarding the federal government’s response to the disasters.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Milton’s maximum sustained winds reached approximately 165 miles (270 kilometers) per hour. Although the storm’s intensity weakened slightly from earlier reports, it remains a devastating Category 5, the highest rating on the scale.
Communities still recovering from Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida late last month, are hurriedly clearing debris that could turn into hazardous projectiles as Milton approaches. “All this debris is just wind fodder that will be blowing around and hitting who knows what,” noted David Levitsky, a retired homeowner on Treasure Island in Pinellas County. Residents on the low-lying island have been collecting remnants from Helene’s flooding in their front yards in preparation for removal.
Harris also condemned Governor DeSantis for “playing political games,” stating, “It is about political gamesmanship instead of fulfilling the duty you swore to uphold, which is to prioritize the people.” She further labeled Trump as “extraordinarily irresponsible,” pointing out that the former president has taken advantage of the public’s frustration with the federal response to Helene, amplifying it with false claims, including assertions that federal disaster funds had been redirected to support migrants.
In response to the impending storm, Florida authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for certain areas, including parts of Tampa, a metropolitan region with over three million residents that may face a direct hit. The National Weather Service warned, “If the storm follows its current trajectory, it could be the worst storm to affect the Tampa area in over a century.”
A significant storm surge is anticipated for Florida’s west coast, with projections for Tuesday night or early Wednesday indicating that Tampa could experience water levels rising as much as 15 feet (4.5 meters) above ground.
