Disaster record
Hurricane Milton (October 2024) — Florida Gulf Coast
Two years after the disaster 39 deaths $34.3 billion
Summary
Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, on October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 hurricane. It came two weeks after Helene. A tornado outbreak, storm surge, and wind damage hit central and western Florida. Thirty-nine people died in Florida.
The National Hurricane Center still counts 39 U.S. deaths. No later revision. Mexico stays off. NCEI stays $34.3 billion.
Scientific attribution
A World Weather Attribution study said human-caused climate change increased Milton’s rainfall by about 20 to 30 percent and wind strength by around 10 percent. The storm intensified rapidly over extreme Gulf heat. That does not mean climate change was the only cause.
Oct 9, 2024 · Siesta Key, Florida landfall; tornado outbreak, surge, and wind across central and western Florida · hurricane / tornado outbreak
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Messaging tallies
About these tallies
“Core Democratic Officials reviewed” shows how many of the 53 Core Democratic Officials have been examined for this disaster. Scoring rules: Methods.
Democratic framing
Summary
Two Core Democratic Officials named this storm in the seven-day window. Neither connected it to climate change. Neither named Republican obstruction of climate action.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren issued an October 11 letter about price gouging in states hit by Helene and Milton. Sen. Bernie Sanders co-signed that letter on Warren’s official site.
Florida has no Democratic U.S. senators. Sen. Ed Markey’s October 15 Boston release talks about two hurricanes and climate. It does not name Milton. An October 16 Warnock–Ossoff–Warner–Kaine letter names Milton. That release is dated October 16 with no time, so it falls after noon.
Statements
- Elizabeth Warren (U.S. Senator (D-MA) — Vice Chair, Senate Democratic Conference) — Oct 11, 2024
- Bernie Sanders (U.S. Senator (I-VT)) — Oct 11, 2024
Republican framing
Sen. Rick Scott spoke through landfall week: October 9 evacuation remarks, an October 10 Fort Myers tour, and an October 11 Florida delegation letter with Sen. Marco Rubio asking for a major disaster declaration. Relief. No climate.
Donald Trump, at an October 9 rally, repeated a false claim that FEMA money had gone to migrants as Milton made landfall. Fact-checkers rejected it. Scott’s demand that the Senate reconvene is disaster-aid politics, not Republican obstruction of climate action.
Statements
- Rick Scott (U.S. Senator (R-FL)) — Oct 11, 2024
- Rick Scott (U.S. Senator (R-FL)) — Oct 10, 2024
- Donald Trump (2024 Republican presidential nominee) — Oct 9, 2024
- Rick Scott (U.S. Senator (R-FL)) — Oct 9, 2024
Sources
- 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Tropical Cyclone Reports — NOAA / National Hurricane Center
- Costliest U.S. Tropical Cyclones — NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
- Hurricane Milton Tropical Cyclone Report — NOAA / National Hurricane Center
- Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters — Hurricane Beryl — NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
- Florida Delegation letter supporting Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Milton — Office of U.S. Senator Rick Scott
- Warren, Lawmakers Renew Push for National Price Gouging Ban As Companies Reportedly Take Advantage of Consumers During Hurricanes Helene and Milton — Office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren
- Sen. Rick Scott Receives Briefing on Major Hurricane Milton Recovery & Response Efforts in Lee County, Surveys Damage — Office of Sen. Rick Scott
- Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida as Category 3 storm — AP News
- Hurricane Milton Advisory Archive — NOAA / National Hurricane Center
- Trump's False Claim of Stolen Disaster Relief Funds — FactCheck.org
- Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida — Associated Press
- SEN. RICK SCOTT: MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR MAJOR HURRICANE MILTON NOW — Office of Sen. Rick Scott
- Millions flee as Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida — Reuters