Biden will survey the damage from Hurricane Milton in Florida, which was hit twice by Reuters
Written by Trevor Hunnicutt
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – US President Joe Biden is arriving in Florida on Sunday to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, the second storm to hit the low-lying area in recent weeks as flood waters continue to rise.
Milton, which has killed at least 17 people, has added to the piles of debris following Hurricane Helene, with power and fuel still out in many areas.
The Biden administration has approved federal aid to help citizens and local governments cover costs.
The president is scheduled to arrive in Tampa at 9:30 a.m. (1330 GMT) and will tour the affected areas on his way to St. The beach.
He will also meet with first responders and local residents before giving public speeches.
Some gas stations are scheduled to open Sunday, according to the state's emergency operations center.
Flooding is expected to continue in the Tampa Bay area and the Sanford area northeast of Orlando as river levels continue to rise, according to the National Weather Service website.
Climate change has been linked to stronger and faster storms, with the two most recent hurricanes to devastate Florida raising questions about the resilience of infrastructure as many residents vow to stay intact.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he had no intention of preventing people from rebuilding in vulnerable areas.
Although Milton was not as damaged as officials had originally predicted, analysts estimated insured losses between $30 billion and $60 billion.
