On Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a stark warning about Hurricane Milton, now a Category 5 storm, calling it potentially one of the most devastating in a century. He urged residents in the storm’s path, especially in Florida’s Gulf Coast, to evacuate “immediately.”
“This could be one of the worst storms in 100 years,” Biden said from the White House, emphasizing the urgency for those in the southeastern United States to “evacuate now.” Stressing the life-threatening nature of the storm, he added, “This is a matter of life or death.” Biden reassured the public that the federal government is ramping up resources and its presence to respond effectively as the hurricane is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, just under two weeks after Hurricane Helene left more than 230 people dead in its wake.
In light of the impending disaster, President Biden announced the indefinite postponement of his planned trip to Germany and Angola, originally scheduled for October 10-15. “I simply don’t think I can leave the country right now,” Biden explained.
During his trip to Germany, Biden was set to lead a summit at a U.S. military base, focusing on the ongoing war in Ukraine and bringing together leaders from numerous allied nations.
The president had also previously committed to visiting Africa during his presidency, a pledge he reiterated on Tuesday, though no new dates for the trip have been announced, with just under four months left in his term.
