On October 7th local time, US President Biden issued a statement declaring a state of emergency in Florida and ordering federal assistance to address the impact of Hurricane Milton on the state starting from October 5th.
According to the official website of the White House, Biden also authorized the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts, mitigate the impact of the emergency on local residents, and provide appropriate assistance for necessary emergency measures.
Reuters reported that Florida has ordered large-scale evacuations in response to potential catastrophic winds and rainy weather.
Florida Governor DeSantis called on the public to take appropriate preventive measures at a press conference after declaring a state of emergency in 51 county-level areas across the state, stating that Hurricane Milton could cause significant damage.