Millions of Floridians remain without electricity on Friday, more than a day after Hurricane Milton tore through the state, spawning tornadoes and leaving at least 16 people dead. The powerful storm caused widespread damage, with utility workers racing to restore downed power lines and repair damaged cell towers, while residents and government crews tackled the aftermath of heavy flooding and toppled trees across cities and towns.
Although Milton did not unleash the catastrophic seawater surge initially feared, the cleanup effort could extend for weeks or months. Chase Pierce, a 25-year-old electrician’s apprentice from St. Petersburg, described the chaos he witnessed: “It opens your eyes to what Mother Nature can do,” he said, recounting the sight of exploding transformers, flying sparks, and a power line crashing into his yard.
Milton, the fifth-most-intense Atlantic hurricane on record, is projected to cost insurers between $30 billion and $60 billion, according to Morningstar DBRS analyst Marcos Alvarez. This estimate is significantly lower than the earlier $100 billion projection made before the storm made landfall on Wednesday evening.
The White House has promised government support, but the full scope of the destruction is still being assessed. Meanwhile, the political battle over the response to the storm continues to escalate. Former President Donald Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden for their handling of the recovery efforts, particularly in North Carolina, which was recently ravaged by Hurricane Helene.
“The federal government … has not done what you are supposed to be doing, in particular, with respect to North Carolina,” Trump said on Thursday. He is currently trailing Harris in recent polls ahead of the upcoming November 5 presidential election.
Vice President Harris responded to Trump’s remarks during a town hall on Univision, condemning the political attacks on the government’s response. “Sadly, we have seen over the last two weeks, since Hurricane Helene, and now in the immediate aftermath of Milton, where people are playing political games,” she said, without directly naming Trump.
Political leaders are well aware of the lasting impact natural disasters can have on their reputations, with comparisons drawn to how President George W. Bush’s approval ratings dropped after the controversial response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
