Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Caracas: The United States attacks another alleged drug-trafficking ship off the coast of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean
Palestinian official urges world to force 'Israel' to comply with ICJ ruling: AFP
Israeli media says Knesset approved bill to annex in West Bank in preliminary reading
Kremlin: As part of strategic nuclear force exercise, Cruiser Bryansk launched Sineva ballistic missile from Barents Sea.
Kremlin: Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome at Kura test site in Kamchatka.
Kremlin: Strategic nuclear forces exercise took place under Putin's leadership.
Lebanese MP Imad Al-Hout, following his meeting with the Grand Mufti of the Republic: Lebanon is the last country to move toward peace and normalization [with "Israel"]
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.
Syria: Local sources report that General Security forces targeted the camp of French fighters from the 'al-Ghuraba division' in the Idlib countryside with mortar and tank shells.

Hurricane Milton leaves 14 dead while US politicians compete for votes

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 11 Oct 2024 12:23
4 Min Read

Hurricane Milton has left millions of Florida residents with no electricity and an increasing death toll, while Trump, Harris, and Biden rally for votes.

Listen
  • x
  • Max Watts, of Buford, Ga., walks in the parking lot to check on a trailer parked outside the hotel where he is riding out Hurricane Milton with coworkers, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 (AP)
    Max Watts, of Buford, Ga., walks in the parking lot to check on a trailer parked outside the hotel where he is riding out Hurricane Milton with coworkers, Wednesday, October 9, 2024. (AP)

At least 14 people have been killed in Florida after Hurricane Milton's tornadoes and floods wreaked havoc on the US state.

Hurricane Milton struck the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm at 8:30 pm on Wednesday before moving into the Atlantic, causing downed trees and power lines to block roads. Some three million homes and businesses were left without electricity as the hurricane tore through the state. 

Authorities reported that at least 14 people have been confirmed dead in the aftermath of the storm, including six in St. Lucie County along Florida's Atlantic coast. Approximately 11 million people are currently at risk of flash and river flooding.

So far, at least 340 individuals have been rescued in Florida, as floods persist in some areas.

The Fitch credit rating agency estimated that property damage from Hurricane Milton could result in insured losses between $30 billion and $50 billion, marking the highest total from a storm in two years, pushing the total annual insured losses for insurers in the state to over $100 billion for the fifth consecutive year.

Trump uses hurricane to take a jab at Harris

US President Joe Biden, in light of the intensity and hazards of the hurricane, urged residents to stay inside their homes as power outages darken Florida, citing downed power lines and debris which create dangerous conditions.

Related News

US announces 8th strike on alleged narcotics boat, 1st in the Pacific

Iran rejects talks under excessive US demands, slams snapback claims

"We know from previous hurricanes that it is often the case that more lives are lost in the days following the storm than actually during the storm itself," he said. 

Former President Donald Trump used the hurricane to make political jabs at Biden and Harris, saying they abandoned the victims of the disaster. 

In a video posted on social media, Trump and his wife Melania extended their prayers for those impacted by the storm, urging them to vote for him in the upcoming elections. "Hopefully, on January 20th you're going to have somebody that's really going to help you and help you like never before," he said. 

This prompted an angry response from Biden, who called Trump "reckless and irresponsible," and urged Congress to rapidly pass more disaster funding. 

Politicians' quarrel 

The United States was barely recovering from Hurricane Helene only two weeks ago. At least 130 people lost their lives due to the storm and the subsequent flooding, with fatalities reported as follows: 57 in North Carolina, 29 in South Carolina, 25 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, four in Tennessee, and one in Virginia, according to local authorities and media reports compiled by AFP.

Back then, a similar pattern of exploitation of a natural disaster for political gain was also noted, with Trump accusing Biden of "sleeping" while Harris is somewhere else "campaigning for money". 

The White House angrily refuted claims about being slow to respond to the devastating storm that claimed the lives of at least 130, a topic further challenging the upcoming US election campaign. 

In a divisive twist, Biden accused former President Donald Trump of spreading lies, after Trump claimed the federal government was neglecting the disaster caused by Hurricane Helene and denying aid to his supporters.

"He's lying," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that he had spoken to North Carolina governor Ray Cooper "and he told him he's lying. I don't know why he does it... that's simply not true, and it's irresponsible." 

On CNN, Cooper, a Democrat, said, when asked about Trump's accusations of Republican victims being ignored, "It makes no difference who you are. If you need help, we are going to provide it," explaining, "And if there is ever a time where we all need to come together and put politics aside, it is now."

  • United States
  • Hurricane Milton
  • Hurricanes
  • Kamala Harris
  • Florida
  • US elections 2024
  • Joe Biden
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
A woman with her purchased groceries walks out from an underground market, in Beijing, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Global brands in China face pressure from rising local rivals

  • Economy
  • 17 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Nearly half of attacks in occupied al-Quds target Armenian Christians
Politics

Nearly half of attacks in occupied al-Quds target Armenian Christians

Greece rocked by EU farm subsidy scandal as dozens arrested
Economy

Greece rocked by EU farm subsidy scandal as dozens arrested

Netherlands holds talks with China after Beijing curbs Nexperia export.
Technology

Netherlands holds talks with China after Nexperia export's curb

Trump said to demand DOJ pay him $230 million for past cases: NYT
Politics

Trump said to demand DOJ pay him $230 mln for past cases: NYT

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS