Will "monster" superstorm Milton cause the most damage in US history?

According to information from the US National Hurricane Center, super storm Milton made landfall in the western region of Florida (USA) on the evening of October 9 with winds of up to 195km/h. It is known that the western region of Florida is currently home to more than 3 million Americans.

Milton's powerful winds are causing damage to hundreds of thousands of Floridians. The Guardian reported that when Milton made landfall, about 2 million homes and businesses in Florida lost power.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he has activated a contingency plan to mobilize thousands of electric workers to respond to and overcome the consequences of the storm on the power supply system.

Economists also made some comments on the damage caused by super storm Milton to the US economy.

"While it's too early to give a definitive estimate of the damage, Milton's impact on one of the most densely populated areas in Florida could cost billions of dollars," Yaron Kinar, an equity analyst at financial services firm Jefferies, told the New York Post .

Fallen power pole in Fort Myers, Florida (Photo: Reuters).

According to some experts from Jefferies, Hurricane Milton is likely to cause up to $245 billion in damage in the Tampa and Fort Myers areas of Florida. Specifically, Hurricane Milton will cause about $175 billion in damage in the Tampa area, while the figure in Fort Myers will be $70 billion.

The total damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was estimated at $192.5 billion. This means that Hurricane Milton is likely to surpass Hurricane Katrina as the costliest natural disaster in US history.

US President Joe Biden had a phone call with many Florida state officials right after Hurricane Milton made landfall there.

"President Biden has spoken with senior officials in the state of Florida, including the mayors of Orlando and Sarasota, and if they need additional support in terms of personnel, rescue, or disaster recovery, they can call him directly. President Biden has, is, and will stand with the officials and people of the state of Florida," the White House statement said.

According to the latest update from CNN , Hurricane Milton, when it made landfall in the western part of Florida, caused flooding in the Tampa area and the situation is getting worse.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/sieu-bao-quai-vat-milton-se-gay-thiet-hai-nang-ne-nhat-lich-su-my-20241010155155969.htm