ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. – President Joe Biden returned to Florida on Sunday for his second visit in just over a week, touring areas badly affected by the recent storms, as nearly a million residents faced power outages, gasoline shortages, and ongoing flooding caused by the devastating Hurricane Milton.

During his visit in the damaged city of St. Pete Beach, one of many communities along Florida’s west-central coast that endured significant destruction from both Hurricane Helene and Milton, Biden reported on the impacts. These storms brought winds of 100 mph and up to 18 inches of rain to Tampa and St. Petersburg, although the anticipated storm surge was less severe than expected.

“Fortunately, the impact of the storm wasn’t as disastrous as we feared,” Biden stated. “Yet for many individuals, it was devastating, with entire neighborhoods inundated and millions without power.”

Biden sanctioned a disaster declaration on Saturday, unlocking federal funds for those impacted by Milton, which includes grants for temporary housing, housing repairs, and loans. On Sunday, he noted that over 250,000 Floridians had sought assistance since the declaration was signed — marking the highest registration in a single day in U.S. history.

The president also announced an additional $612 million in support for communities affected by recent hurricanes, including $47 million designated for Gainesville Regional Utilities and another $47 million for Florida Power and Light to aid in restoring power and strengthening the regional power infrastructure.

“This is a team effort, everyone. Your contributions have made a significant impact and saved lives,” Biden concluded his remarks. “However, there is still much work ahead. We will do all we can to restore power to your homes and assist you in rebuilding stronger.”

Flooding persists across Florida following Milton

The aftermath of Milton’s heavy rains continued to affect communities on Sunday, as officials warned of rising floodwaters and swollen rivers, which are anticipated to increase further in the upcoming days. Some rivers are even reaching record levels.

Flood warnings are in effect across numerous counties in Florida, including Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Citrus, Levy, DeSoto, Alachua, Volusia, and Seminole, as reported by the weather service.

In the Tampa Bay region, Cypress Creek’s water level hit 15 feet on Sunday, exceeding the previous flood record of 13.8 feet established in 2004, according to the National Weather Service.

The Hillsborough River, at a state park northeast of Tampa, also saw records fall, reaching 15.9 feet—significantly above the former high of 14.7 feet set in 1960. The flooding has submerged roads in the Crystal Springs neighborhood, trapping residents in their homes.

In Seminole County, located just north of Orlando, officials warned residents to stay vigilant regarding the rising Saint Johns River.

“The levels have reached major flood stage, with further rises possible in the next week or two,” said the weather service in Melbourne, advising residents in Volusia and Seminole counties to prepare for ongoing significant flooding impacts for the next several weeks.

Residents of St. Pete Beach feel encouraged by Biden’s visit

Paul Giardina, a part-time resident of St. Pete Beach, expressed his happiness upon seeing the president in the area, hoping it would accelerate recovery efforts. His single-story condo building with seven units is located close to where Biden spoke in front of a collapsed home. His property avoided significant damage from both Helene and Milton.

Although Helene brought about half an inch of water into his building, ruining a bed, rugs, and other belongings, Milton only caused minor damage by lifting some roof shingles. Giardina feels fortunate that the storms did not inflict severe harm, especially given that a house behind him lost its roof and a nearby condo had over three feet of flooding.

“We count ourselves as the lucky ones,” he reflected.

Cathi Perkins, emergency management director for Pinellas County, which includes St. Pete Beach, noted that approximately half of the county still lacked electricity as of Sunday. She mentioned that the community feels weary and frustrated, yet it is comforting to recognize that aid is on the way.

“We are incredibly thankful for the support from both the state and federal governments, providing us with vital resources,” she remarked. “Seeing that we are not alone means a great deal to our community.”

Flooded rivers trap people in New Port Richey

In a New Port Richey neighborhood, residents have been stuck in their homes for several days due to dangerously high floodwaters from nearby streams, rendering many roads unusable.

Some areas experienced flooding that rose to three feet, leading to two elderly individuals becoming trapped in their vehicle as they turned onto a neighborhood street. An 82-year-old man survived the ordeal, but unfortunately, an 88-year-old woman in the passenger seat lost her life.

Neighbors expressed their shock over the incident, with many opting to remain at home rather than attempt to navigate the flooding. Fortunately, most homes still had power in the neighborhood.

“We’re all feeling a bit stir-crazy,” said Emily Archer, a resident who has been using her lifted Jeep to deliver supplies to others in the community.

– Elena Barrera, Tallahassee Democrat

‘I’ve had enough’: After Helene and Milton, a resident plans to leave Florida

Lance and Nichol Fountaine relocated to Siesta Key from Tennessee in 2020 as remote work became viable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They appreciate the island’s lifestyle and community, but after experiencing six floods in just over a year, they are feeling worn out, frustrated, and are considering moving away. Nichol has developed PTSD from the persistent water damage in their home, with each storm triggering anxiety.

The storm surge from Hurricane Helene last month was particularly devastating, bringing 3 feet of water into their three-bedroom home built in the 1960s. Hurricane Milton further compounded their troubles by hitting Siesta Key on Wednesday, resulting in an additional 2 feet of storm surge.

“I’m done,” Nichol expressed. “I love it here, I will visit, but I cannot live through this anymore.”

Sarasota-Bradenton airport to reopen Wednesday after suffering $10M in damages

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport will remain closed until at least Wednesday due to damage sustained to two roof sections over the main concourse from the wind of Hurricane Milton, according to an official.

Rick Piccolo, the airport’s CEO, informed the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, part of the YSL News Network, that repair efforts are ongoing, and the airport is expected to resume passenger flights at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Small aircraft are already permitted to use the airport’s airfield, and the parking lots along with car rental access remain operational.

“We’re estimating at least $10 million in damage, possibly even more,” Piccolo remarked. “There’s a lot of debris, roofing materials that flew off, and numerous hangars that have either sustained significant damage or been completely destroyed.”

– Samantha Gholar and Jesse Mendoza, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

What is the financial toll of Milton’s destruction?

Preliminary estimates indicate that Hurricane Milton’s devastation might reach $50 billion, as stated by Biden on Friday. However, when considering property damage and economic implications, the total could soar beyond $160 billion, according to an estimate from AccuWeather, which factors in long-term health care costs for survivors and disruptions to various industries.

“Milton will be remembered as one of the most destructive storms in Florida’s history, similar to Hurricane Helene, which had estimated damages and economic losses ranging from $225 to $250 billion just two weeks prior,” AccuWeather noted.

Since 1980, hurricanes have resulted in over $1.3 trillion in damages, with the average storm causing around $22.8 billion in damages, based on data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management.

Biden’s schedule for his visit to Florida

• 9:30 a.m.: Biden arrives in Tampa at MacDill Air Force Base
• 9:45 a.m.: The president departs Tampa and undertakes an aerial survey of impacted areas en route to St. Petersburg
• 10:15 a.m.: Biden arrives in St. Petersburg at Albert Whitted Airport.
• 10:45 a.m.: The president participates in an operational briefing with federal, state, and local officials in St. Pete Beach.
• 11 a.m.: Biden meets with first responders and local residents
• 11:30 a.m.: The president delivers his remarks
• 1:05 p.m.: Biden departs Florida heading to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biden’s earlier visit to Florida followed Hurricane Helene

Just nine days ago, President Joe Biden was last in Florida.

On October 3, Biden arrived in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene to assess the damage, talk with residents and first responders, and receive updates about the storm that impacted Taylor County, a lightly populated region in Florida’s Big Bend that has faced three hurricanes within a single year.

He landed at Tallahassee International Airport on Air Force One before departing via Marine One to tour Helene’s landfall area from the sky. After landing at Perry airport, he traveled by motorcade to the heavily impacted Keaton Beach.

Biden, wearing a baseball cap and aviator sunglasses, engaged with first responders from Taylor County.

(This article was updated to include additional information.)