Florida hit by Milton: 16 dead and millions without power

Hurricane Milton’s death toll in Florida has climbed to at least 16, officials reported on Friday, while millions remained without power as people began the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.

More than two million homes and businesses were still without electricity, and some parts of the storm’s path were still flooded. “Water levels are still rising in some places,” warned Governor Ron DeSantis, but noted that despite the storm’s severity, “thankfully, this wasn’t the worst-case scenario.”

During a White House briefing, President Joe Biden said experts estimated the damage from the storm would cost $50 billion. The federal response to Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, which hit the southeastern U.S. two weeks earlier, has sparked political debate. Biden announced plans to visit Florida on Sunday.

Amid concerns about adequate federal funding for disaster response, the president urged Congress to increase support, particularly for small businesses struggling to recover. The agency providing loans to these businesses and families said it was overwhelmed by the scale of this disaster and others, and was running low on funds.

Former President Donald Trump falsely accused the Biden administration of diverting hurricane relief funds to support migrants, a claim that even some Republican officials have rejected.

When asked if Trump was solely responsible for spreading misinformation, Biden responded, “No… but he has the biggest mouth.”