President Joe Biden will be visiting Florida for the second time in about a week to tour communities that were devastated by Hurricane Milton. The storm left nearly 1 million without power, caused gas shortages, and persistent flooding. Biden is expected to deliver remarks in St. Petersburg, which was hit hard by the storm. A disaster declaration has been approved by Biden, freeing up federal funding to help those affected by the storm. Nearly 958,000 homes and businesses were without power as of Sunday morning. Floodwaters continue to affect communities, triggering rescues and forcing some residents to stay in their homes. The damage caused by Hurricane Milton is estimated to be around $50 billion, with the total cost of property damage and economic loss potentially exceeding $160 billion. Biden’s itinerary for his visit includes stops in Tampa and St. Petersburg to receive briefings and meet with first responders and local residents. This visit comes after his previous visit to Florida following Hurricane Helene. Residents like the Fountaine family on Siesta Key are considering leaving after multiple floods have caused extensive damage to their homes. The Sarasota-Bradenton airport is also closed until at least Wednesday due to damage from the storm.
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