Hurricane Milton hits Florida, some places with 'once in a thousand years' heavy rain
Oct 10, 2024
Florida [US], October 10: Hurricane Milton made landfall near the city of Siesta Key, Florida, USA on the evening of October 9 (local time, this morning Vietnam time).
Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm with winds of more than 120 mph, has been downgraded to a Category 2 storm with winds of 110 mph, centered 20 miles northeast of Sarasota. However, its impact is still expected to be very dangerous.
According to CNN, the city of Fort Myers, Florida, began to see the worst of the flooding as Hurricane Milton brought high tides to the area. Meanwhile, in the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, authorities issued a flash flood warning, and recorded 220 mm of rain in 3 hours. CNN called this a "once in a thousand years" rainfall in St. Petersburg.
The National Weather Service warns that major flash flooding is occurring or expected soon and could cause life-threatening impacts. More than a million homes and businesses in Florida are without power. Many residential roofs and driveways in Sarasota were damaged when the storm made landfall, according to Fox News.
Florida Department of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said special forces were arriving in Florida to assist in response to areas that have suffered tornado damage. Guthrie urged residents to seek shelter immediately and protect themselves with household items.
Before the storm hit, US President Joe Biden had a phone call with Florida officials, asking them to call him directly if they needed more support for response, rescue and recovery after the storm.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
