President Joe Biden of the United States has issued an emergency declaration for Florida in anticipation of the impending arrival of the formidable Hurricane Milton. "We have declared a state of emergency for Florida and authorized federal assistance to support potential response efforts necessitated by the emergency conditions expected from Hurricane Milton," Biden stated in a release on social media platform X.
This declaration enables the mobilization of federal resources to supplement state and local response efforts as the storm threatens the region. Hurricane Milton is projected to make landfall once again in western Florida, prompting federal authorities to expedite the deployment of emergency personnel and resources to the area.
In preparation for the storm, Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on Sunday across 35 counties, including Miami-Dade. "With Tropical Storm Milton gaining strength in the Gulf, I have issued Executive Order 24-214 in anticipation of its potential landfall on Florida's west coast this week. This executive order declares a state of emergency in 35 Florida counties," DeSantis announced via his X account.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has reported that the cyclone has intensified to a category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (250 km/h) and even stronger gusts. According to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (@53rdWRS), the hurricane's recent intensification has been verified through accurate measurements.
As of now, Hurricane Milton is positioned 190 kilometers west-northwest of Celestún and 240 kilometers west of Progreso in Mexico's Yucatán state. Its projected path places it 1,195 kilometers west-southwest of Tampa, towards which it is currently heading.