House Speaker Mike Johnson said Hurricane Helene's devastation doesn't require immediate action by Congress to boost federal disaster relief funding because it'll take time to assess the damage. read more
The mayor is facing criminal charges, his close associates are fleeing the administration and the very top ranks of the police department are in disarray. read more
Internet personality Jack Doherty crashed his $200,000 McLaren during a livestream this weekend after appearing to look at his phone while driving in the rain.
From Trump campaign signs to Planned Parenthood bumper stickers, license plate readers around the US are creating searchable databases that reveal Americans' political leanings and more. read more
The new Supreme Court term begins on Monday, October 7. With it comes major cases that will help define life in the United States, from gun control to online pornography. read more
Back-to-Back Hurricanes Set to Strain FEMA as Its Funds Run Low
www.bnnbloomberg.ca
... The cash-strapped US Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to be tested by back-to-back major disasters as Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida's Gulf Coast less than two weeks after Helene devastated the Southeast.
"This could result in a signification strain on FEMA's resources," said Daniel Kaniewski, a former deputy administration at the US disaster response agency. "A major hurricane hitting a highly populated area would certainly be a worst case."
Even before Helene struck late last month, killing at least 227 and causing up to $250 billion in damages, FEMA was stretched thin by record-setting wildfires and other extreme weather events. Under financial strain, the agency projected a $3 billion deficit by February.
Although Congress provided FEMA with $20 billion in a temporary government spending bill lasting through Dec. 20, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned that the agency doesn't have enough funding to make it through hurricane season. It still has enough to meet immediate needs, Mayorkas said. ...
Note that the It still has enough to meet immediate needs, Mayorkas said. comment was made before Milton had spun up.
Hurricane Milton...
finance.yahoo.com
... Hurricane Milton's surge to Category 5 strength comes from high-temperature Gulf of Mexico waters that also intensified the deadly Helene less than two weeks ago, contributing to the new storm's odd west-to-east track that threatens Tampa, Florida.
"There is really no historical precedent for a track like this," said Ryan Truchelut, president of commercial forecaster WeatherTiger.
Though the calendar says October, the water is 86F (30C) in Mexico's Bay of Campeche, where Milton is gathering strength, and nearly that warm off Tampa, according to the National Data Buoy Center. Hurricanes draw power from hotter water, which acts as fuel for storms.
"The Gulf is still being summer-like with water temperatures," Truchelut said. Gulf waters averaged 78.4F in October 2023, according to the website sea temperature.info.
The balmy water has allowed Milton to rapidly intensify as it moves across the Gulf toward Florida's west coast, where it's forecast to make landfall Oct. 9. A storm rapidly intensifies when its winds grow in strength by 35 miles per hour or more in 24 hours. Milton met the definition in 12 hours Sunday, according to US National Hurricane Center records, and has now reached the top rung of the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale.
While the larger weather patterns pushing west to east aren't unusual in October, what is odd is the warm water that is sustaining such a powerful storm on this path. Depending on where along the coast it strikes, Milton has the potential to be the worst hurricane to hit Tampa since 1921. ...
Hurricane Milton live updates: 'Potentially catastrophic' Category 5 storm takes aim at Florida
www.nbcnews.com
... Hurricane Milton 'explosively intensifies' with winds of 175 mph (2:02PM EDT)
Hurricane Milton has "explosively" intensified, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph, according the latest bulletin from the National Hurricane Center.
The agency said Milton is now a "potentially catastrophic" Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which ranks hurricanes from 1 to 5 based on a storm's maximum sustained wind speed.
"While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida," the NHC said. ...
@#27 ... Went from TS to Cat 4 with 155mph winds in about 24 hours. ...
Live updates: Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 as Florida begins evacuations
apnews.com
... Milton rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest level, in the Gulf of Mexico on Monday on a path toward Florida.
Milton had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (250 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. ...
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks resigns, 3 others in Adams' administration to leave
abc7ny.com