Florida is preparing for Hurricane Milton, which has intensified to the fifth and maximum category, at a time when US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in the state and pledged to save fuel.
In a joint press conference with his Vice President, Kamala Harris, the US President called on Florida residents to follow instructions in anticipation of the hurricane, and said that it is “a matter of life or death. This is not an exaggeration.”
Biden warned of the spread of misleading information about the hurricane, which he described as “ridiculous,” referring to what was circulated that the government would provide only $750 for each affected person.
For her part, Harris said that the administration “is working non-stop to provide aid and is working with local authorities to utilize available resources in an effective manner.” So far, the administration has sent about 1,000 personnel to Florida to prepare for the hurricane, she said.
Harris added: “I call on the residents of Florida, especially the city of Tampa, to take the storm seriously,” noting that this hurricane will be “historic and deadly.” She said: “If you are asked to evacuate, do so immediately.”
The US Vice President pledged that the administration would do everything in its power to protect Florida residents and rebuild, as it did with other states.
Harris threatened to hold accountable any party that would exploit the crisis to raise the prices of fuel, food, and other goods for consumers.
Milton threatens to cause massive destruction in areas such as Tampa and St. Petersburg in the state, unprecedented in nearly a century.
As of Tuesday, Milton was reclassified as a Category 5 hurricane on a five-level scale, with maximum sustained winds of 270 kilometers per hour, the National Hurricane Center said.
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