Most Astonishing Pics Showing Devastation Caused by Hurricane Milton Revealed Yet

Most Astonishing Pics Showing Devastation Caused by Hurricane Milton Revealed Yet

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Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida's eastern coast on Wednesday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction as a Category 3 storm. Approximately 3 million residents lost power, and the fierce winds and torrential rain took a heavy toll. Pictures from the aftermath are heart-wrenching.

At least ten individuals have perished due to the storm, as per Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who addressed the nation via video call during Thursday's White House briefing.

Far from Florida, Mayorkas was monitoring the recovery efforts in North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene pummelled the western part of the state, leaving a path of destruction in high-altitude areas where most residents lack flood insurance.

Mayorkas cautioned that while Hurricane Milton may have passed, the danger remains. Dangerous debris, flooded streets, contaminated water sources, and downed power lines pose a threat. He urged citizens to heed local warnings and stay safe.

"Structures have been severely damaged in some places, and sadly, we know that lives have been lost. Our thoughts are with them and their families," Mayorkas said at the briefing.

One heavily damaged building is the Tampa Bay Times' headquarters in downtown St. Petersburg, where a construction crane toppled onto the eight-story structure, causing massive damage.

Social media has been inundated with conspiracy theories about both Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, including the notion that Democrats have control over the weather, manipulating hurricanes to target predominantly Republican areas to aid Donald Trump. In the 2020s, such fringe ideas are gaining traction, with even sitting members of Congress amplifying them.

"Yes, they can control the weather. It's absurd to suggest otherwise," Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia tweeted recently, just one of several tweets promoting the conspiracy theory.

false and manipulated images have surfaced on social media, claiming to depict Hurricane Milton's damage. Remarkably, AI-generated images depicting Walt Disney World drowned in floodwaters circulated online, though the theme park is set to reopen soon.

Secretary Mayorkas addressed these misinformation campaigns during the briefing, emphasizing their real-world consequences.

"The false information being spread deliberately does have a significant impact on those affected and is also demoralizing to the countless heroic individuals risking their lives to help others," Mayorkas said.

Mayorkas cited instances where misinformation hindered rescue efforts, such as fears that accepting federal aid would result in property seizures.

Residents of St. Petersburg, Gulfport, South Pasadena, and Lealman have been advised to boil their water due to broken water mains since Hurricane Milton struck.

"Last night, the City made the difficult decision to shut off potable (drinking) water due to major water main breaks caused by Hurricane Milton," the city stated on its website. "Crews are working to repair the damages, and water pressure is gradually returning, though a citywide boil water notice has been issued for all water customers."

The city advises that any non-bottled water used for activities like drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth should be boiled first for one minute.

Reports of internet issues from Spectrum Internet users in the hurricane's path have numbered over 8,000, according to DownDetector. Connectivity problems were the most common issue (35%), followed by total outages and poor signal reception (26% and 23%, respectively).

Fortunately, Tampa and its large population have so far escaped fatalities from Hurricane Milton. While there was initial concern about a direct hit on Tampa resulting in even more destruction, this disaster has taken its toll on other areas.

"Tampa Bay was spared in the final hours from the predicted catastrophic storm surge," Cathie Perkins, head of emergency management for Pinellas County, told Reuters.

For those looking to help those affected by Hurricane Milton, GoFundMe has assembled a hub of verified crowdfunding campaigns.

"In the past two weeks since Helene made landfall, more than $50 million has been raised on GoFundMe for hurricane relief, from over 400,000 donors across all 50 U.S. states, with an average donation amount of $120," a spokesperson told Gizmodo.

"We anticipate many in Florida, especially those impacted by Milton, will continue to need support. In response, GoFundMe has also updated our Hurricane Relief Page with resources for donors looking to help and communities still recovering from Hurricane Helene."

On Thursday afternoon, President Joe Biden held a briefing from the White House.

"I understand that recovery and rebuilding efforts can take a long time and are difficult, but I promise you that our efforts will continue to help you repair and rebuild, even after the press and cameras have moved on," Biden said.

"I want you to know that everything we have at our disposal will be utilized to help you pick up the pieces and get everything you need," Biden added. "May God bless those affected, as well as our troops and first responders, who put their lives on the line to help."

1. In the future, the advancement of technology could potentially allow for hurricane prevention measures to be taken remotely, reducing the impact of such natural disasters.
2. Meanwhile, the Earth-science community is working tirelessly to understand the factors influencing hurricane formation and intensification, with hopes of predicting their paths more accurately.
3. Thankfully, the earth-science expertise was able to predict that Tampa Bay would be spared from the predicted catastrophic storm surge during Hurricane Milton, thus saving countless structures and lives.
4. As for the recovery efforts, Secretary Mayorkas is currently using technology to monitor these processes remotely, keeping a close eye on the progress in both Florida and North Carolina.

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