Hurricane Milton updates: 16 dead across Florida in storm's aftermath
Milton forced millions to evacuate and left widespread destruction.
At least 16 people have died from Hurricane Milton, which roared onshore on Florida's west coast as a Category 3 hurricane, bringing tornadoes, powerful winds and flooding rains. The monster storm forced millions to evacuate and left widespread destruction across Florida.
Latest headlines:
White House using Reddit to try to combat hurricane misinformation
The White House is launching a Reddit account to try to combat misinformation about hurricanes Helene and Milton, a White House official said.
The White House will use the account to post about how people can access FEMA support. The account will also engage with posts that are sharing false information and correct the record, the official said.
-ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett
United: All flights leaving storm zone are full
United Airlines added extra flights and bigger planes to airports in the storm zone, and now the airline says all of its flights are full.
United currently has 25,000 people booked from affected airports.
The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport are all set to close for the storm.
-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney
'Storm of the century' for Tampa
"We’ve never seen anything like this before," Tampa police chief Lee Bercaw warned Tuesday as Milton approaches. "This is the storm of the century."
Tampa Bay is forecast to face a record-breaking storm surge of 10 to 15 feet. That surge will rise above a single-story home, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor stressed.
"That’s the coffin that you’re in," she said at a news conference.
Castor said she spoke to President Joe Biden Monday night and relayed that the city’s most important need was getting household debris from Hurricane Helene "off of the street so that doesn’t become additional fuel for Hurricane Milton."
In Hillsborough County, which encompasses Tampa, more than 1,700 people were already in nine shelters as of Tuesday morning, county emergency management director Timothy Dudley Jr. said, adding that the facilities are prepared to take a lot more people.
"Don’t panic. You have time. Get somewhere safe," he said.
Biden: Milton could be one of Florida's worst storms in 100 years
Milton could be one of Florida’s worst storms in 100 years, President Joe Biden warned while addressing the media on Tuesday.
Milton could not only enter Florida’s west coast as a hurricane but could still be hurricane-strength by the time it leaves Florida’s east coast, he said.
If you are under evacuation orders, leave now, Biden urged, stressing that it’s "a matter of life and death."
Biden has postponed his travel to Germany and Angola due to the hurricane. He was slated to leave on Thursday.
While preparing for Milton, the government is still "surging resources" in states impacted by Hurricane Helene, he said.
Biden said he spoke to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday.
"He said he's got all that he needs," Biden said, adding that he gave the governor his "personal phone number to call."
Biden also slammed individuals spreading misinformation around FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene, calling it "un-American."