FLORIDA, USA — President Joe Biden confirmed Thursday afternoon in a press conference held at the White House that there have been four deaths reported "so far" from Hurricane Milton, a day after the Category 3 hurricane made landfall and ravaged several southwestern and central Florida counties.
The president said Milton brought 10 to 20 inches of rain in the Tampa area, and that 38 tornadoes "ripped" through 13 counties. He also said storm surge measurements are still being taken.
Although it is too early to know the full account of damage caused by Milton, Biden mentioned that he's spoken to somewhere between 10 and 15 mayors and county executives in the Sunshine State.
"Vice President Harris and I have been in constant contact with state and local officials, and we're offering everything they need," Biden said. "As directed, FEMA is gonna open disaster recovery centers all across the impacted communities right away."
For the Tampa Bay area, Biden said the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers are assessing how fast they can reopen the Port of Tampa Bay, so that fuel, food, water and other basic goods can be "flowing in the area again and quickly." He said three million people statewide are without power, but more than 40 million powerline workers have come from around the country and Canada, to restore power across the state.
In response to companies partaking in "price gouging" and citizens trying to scam their neighbors in the aftermath of the deadly storm, Biden said: "We will go after you and hold you accountable."
Furthermore, Biden said some Americans received "death penalties" Wednesday as a result of "reckless, irresponsible, and relentless disinformation, and outright lies and continued fault."
"Those who engage in such lies are undermining confidence in the rescue and recovery work that's opening and ongoing," Biden said. "To all the people impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, despite that misinformation and lies, the truth is we're providing the resources needed to rescue, recover and rebuild."
The president said he will be providing an update on recovery efforts again on Friday. He did not mention what counties the tornadoes touched down in nor what counties the deaths were reported from.