Biden delays trip/ Hurricane Milton Florida/ Tampa Bay hurricane threat/ hurricane preparations/ presidential travel delay/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Joe Biden has postponed his upcoming trip to Germany and Angola to remain in Washington and monitor Hurricane Milton, which is predicted to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast. The powerful storm, currently near the Yucatan Peninsula, is expected to approach Tampa Bay with severe winds and storm surges by Wednesday night.
Biden Trip Delay: Quick Looks
- Hurricane Milton’s Impact: Biden delays trip due to the approaching storm.
- Storm Threat: Tampa Bay faces a “once-in-a-century” hurricane with surges and high winds.
- Storm Strength: With winds up to 145 mph, Milton is expected to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast by Wednesday.
Biden Delays Germany, Angola Trips as Hurricane Milton Looms
Deep Look:
President Joe Biden has postponed a scheduled diplomatic trip to Germany and Angola as Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, the White House confirmed Tuesday. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained the decision, emphasizing the need for Biden to stay in Washington to monitor the hurricane’s path and preparations due to its severe potential.
Hurricane Milton, which was downgraded slightly on Tuesday, remains a highly dangerous Category 4 storm. Weather experts are warning that it could bring extreme impacts to Florida, particularly to the Tampa Bay area. With towering storm surges, destructive winds, and the potential to turn remnants of recent Hurricane Helene’s wreckage into airborne hazards, Milton could become a historic weather event for the Gulf Coast.
The storm, carrying winds as high as 145 mph (230 kph), is currently positioned near Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and is making a slow approach toward Florida. Florida’s western coast, stretching from the Panhandle down to Tampa, is under a mix of hurricane and tropical storm warnings. Parts of the eastern coast were also placed under hurricane warnings on Tuesday morning, indicating the widespread reach of the storm’s impact.
Officials are keeping a close watch on Milton’s path, which is projected to bring the storm’s center ashore near Tampa Bay by Wednesday night. This area, with a population exceeding 3.3 million, has not experienced a storm of this strength in decades. Emergency response teams are on high alert, readying resources and preparing for extensive evacuations if necessary. Biden’s decision to delay his diplomatic visit reflects a commitment to coordinating federal aid and response efforts should the storm cause significant damage to the region.
While the White House has not set a new date for Biden’s postponed trip, the president has expressed a strong commitment to fulfilling his promise of visiting Africa before his term concludes in January. The rescheduling of this trip is expected to be a priority once Hurricane Milton has passed and conditions stabilize.
Biden said he’s working to figure out new times to go to Africa and Germany in the limited that that he has left in his presidency.
“I’m still planning on visiting all the places I said I’d be,” he said.
Hurricane Milton weakened slightly Tuesday but remained a ferocious storm that could land a once-in-a-century direct hit on the populous Tampa Bay region with towering storm surges and turn debris from Helene’s recent devastation into projectiles.
This year’s hurricane season has caused havoc for political calendars in the closing weeks of the presidential campaign. Less than two weeks ago, Harris, the Democratic nominee, cut short a West Coast trip to return to Washington after Helene made landfall. She later visited Georgia and North Carolina, where some of the worst damage took place.
Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has also traveled through the Southeast, including two trips to Georgia.
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