The aftermath of Hurricane Milton leaves billions of dollars in damage, dozens of people missing or dead, and Florida and its surrounding areas devastated. But rebuilding efforts are underway, and political leaders should focus on addressing and repairing the current damage, rather than competing over who appears to be more helpful.
Relief efforts have been well-organized so far. Florida Governor DeSantis praised the volunteers who have contributed to the recovery by restoring electricity and repairing the damaged infrastructure after the intense storm. He has prioritized the interests of the people of Florida over governmental agendas, allocating millions of gallons of gas to recovery efforts.
DeSantis also supported those evacuating the state by donating millions of gallons of gasoline to aid their departure.
Although Milton has passed, its long-term effects cannot be underestimated. With an estimated $30 billion in damage, including severe flooding across parts of Southern Florida, the road to full recovery for the affected people and regions is expected to be a long and difficult process.
DeSantis has already initiated recovery efforts, collaborating with the U.S. government and corporations like Walmart and Shell AG, which have contributed to funding efforts by donating money and resources to the state of Florida
“Taking action to address these impacts now is imperative to keep Florida on the road to recovery”, Gov. DeSantis said on Monday, October 14, during an address.
DeSantis has played a crucial role in the aftermath of the hurricane, focusing recovery efforts on the areas in Florida most severely impacted, such as Manatee County, which experienced extreme flooding and power outages. By October 14, more than 51 local schools had regained power and the necessary resources to reopen, thanks to DeSantis’s efforts and the aid provided to the state.
Approximately $10 million has been allocated to SeaPort Manatee, one of Florida’s key ports, which was devastated during Hurricane Milton. With several facilities at SeaPort Manatee destroyed, the fuel and economic support from the state government will play a critical role in revitalizing the hardest-hit areas.”
Outside of the hurricane recovery, DeSantis has criticized Vice President Kamala Harris over her lack of involvement in the efforts. DeSantis and Harris have clashed over the response to Hurricane Milton, with DeSantis stating that the Vice President did not participate in the recovery process and made no attempt to collaborate with the state of Florida.
“Although I’ve worked well with the president, she has never called Florida. She has never offered any support,”DeSantis said, when discussing government involvement in the recovery process.
In response, Harris claimes that DeSantis is “playing political games” and that “these [the recovery] are the height of emergency situations, it’s just utterly irresponsible, and it is selfish.”
Clearly, both sides have differing accounts of the recovery efforts. The contributions from the State of Florida and DeSantis, as well as from the Biden Administration, have significantly aided the people of Florida. Instead of assigning blame or debating who is right or wrong, the priority should be ensuring the safety and well-being of those most affected by Hurricane Milton
There is still much work to be done. The most important step is to enlist skilled workers and volunteers in key fields to accelerate Florida’s recovery efforts, ensuring faster progress. Without the combined contributions of the government, donors, and volunteers, the recovery from Hurricane Milton will be a difficult task.
Rather than focusing on the extent of individual contributions, both the government and the public need to take action to ensure the well-being of Floridians is effectively secured.
Editors’ note: anyone who would like to assist or donate to the recovery efforts of Hurricane Milton, please click on this link.
