US president, senior officials warn storm could bring more damage than those in recent memory
US President Joe Biden sought to emphasize the historic nature of Hurricane Milton as it closes in on Florida's west coast, telling residents in the storm's path that it looks to be the "storm of the century."
Biden urged everyone in Milton's path to follow any evacuation orders that have been issued because it is "a matter of life and death."
The president decried misinformation spreading online about the storm as "reckless, irresponsible, relentless."
"It's undermining confidence in the incredible rescue and recovery work that has already been taken, and that will continue to be taken. It's harmful to those who need help the most. There's simply no place for this to happen," he said during a briefing on his administration's response to the storm.
"Assertions have been made that property is being confiscated. That's simply not true. They're saying people impacted by these storms will receive $750 in cash and no more. That's simply not true. They're saying the money needed for this crisis is being diverted to migrants. What a ridiculous thing to say. It's not true. Now the claims are getting even more bizarre," he added.
He was referring to statements by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene who suggested on X that the storm had been artificially manufactured, claiming "climate change is the new Covid."
"Ask your government if the weather is manipulated or controlled. Did you ever give permission to them to do it? Are you paying for it? Of course you are," she wrote.
Biden responded to the allegations, saying they are "beyond ridiculous. It's got to stop."
Milton is currently a dauntingly powerful Category 4 hurricane as it prepares to come ashore late Wednesday or early Thursday. It is expected to remain a hurricane as it tears across central and northern Florida before entering the Atlantic Ocean.
More than 1,000 federal personnel are on the ground assisting state and local officials as they recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene after it crossed the state's panhandle area two weeks ago. An additional 1,200 search and rescue personnel are being deployed to Florida to aid in preparations for Milton.
National Hurricane Center (NHC) Director Michael Brennan said that within hours Florida could begin to see "a potentially catastrophic hurricane landfall" along its west coast.
"This is a powerful, major hurricane, and a large hurricane at that. We are already seeing multiple life-threatening hazards playing out across Florida," he said. "Time is running out now for people to leave along the west coast before conditions deteriorate further."
Multiple tornado warnings have already been put into effect, and tropical storm winds of between 39 to 73 mph (63 to 120 kph) are now occurring offshore hours before the hurricane makes landfall.
The NHC said those in the storm's path should head indoors, and stay away from windows.
The storm is packing sustained winds of up to 145 mph (230 kph). Forecasters have warned that the exact area where Milton will come ashore is difficult to predict, but current models have it making landfall just south of Tampa Bay near Sarasota before cutting across the Florida peninsula.
Storm surge warnings are in effect for nearly all of Florida's west coast, running from the southern tip of the state through Yankeetown. That area encompasses several major population centers, including Tampa Bay where the NHC is warning of a storm surge of between 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 meters).
Brennan cautioned that "even as close as we are to landfall, it's not really possible to tell exactly where that worst surge will occur, it's one bobble away from shifting 10 or 20 miles."
Vice President Kamala Harris warned affected residents that while they may have been able to ride out previous storms, Milton is in a class of its own.
"Many of you I know are tough, and you've ridden out these hurricanes before, this one's going to be different," she said. "We ask you that, by every measure, understand it's going to be more dangerous, more deadly and more catastrophic. So please listen to your local officials."
