Biden shelves plan to travel abroad due to Hurricane Milton

President Joe Biden has canceled his upcoming trip to Germany and Angola as Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 4 storm, bears down on Florida.

According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the decision was made due to the hurricane’s projected trajectory and strength, requiring the President’s attention to oversee preparations and response efforts.

“Given the projected trajectory and strength of Hurricane Milton, President Biden is postponing his upcoming trip to Germany and Angola in order to oversee preparations for and the response to Hurricane Milton, in addition to the ongoing response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene across the Southeast,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced in a written statement.

Hurricane Milton has already undergone rapid intensification, with winds reaching up to 180 miles per hour, making it one of the strongest storms so late in the season.

The National Hurricane Center warns that Milton poses an “extremely serious threat” to Florida, with potential storm surges reaching 10-15 feet in the Tampa Bay area, surpassing the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency in 51 counties, urging residents to heed evacuation warnings and seek safety. The state is preparing for the largest evacuation since 2017’s Hurricane Irma, with hundreds of first responders embedded in potential impact sites along Florida’s west coast.

As the storm approaches, airports in Tampa, Orlando, and Southwest Florida have announced closures, and residents are rushing to finalize emergency plans and evacuate from the coast and low-lying areas.

With Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall on Wednesday night, authorities stress that all preparation and evacuation efforts should be completed by Tuesday.