Milton rocks Florida . With winds of 230 kilometers per hour , the hurricane is approaching dangerously close and has Tampa Bay in its sights , a densely populated and rapidly growing area that is also one of America's most vulnerable to coastal flooding.
The alert is very high: the authorities have asked more than a million people to evacuate and President Joe Biden has decided to postpone his trip to Germany and Angola to monitor developments.
Milton risks being "catastrophic, the worst hurricane to hit Florida in 100 years," Biden explained, urging the population to follow the indications of the authorities and to evacuate if necessary. "It is a matter of life and death," he warned.
Tampa Bay's highways are packed with traffic and gas stations are lined up for hours . Supermarkets are packed and water is being rationed. Electricity companies have already warned residents to prepare for long blackouts. The last major hurricane in the area was in 1921. Storms have dodged it since then, at least until two weeks ago, when Helene hit north Tampa Bay.
And just as the damage from Helene is still being counted, Milton arrives, a much more powerful hurricane that could raise the water level by 15 feet.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the opening of four shelters that can house up to 10,000 people.
(Unioneonline/vl)
