Florida residents braced themselves for Hurricane Milton as it made its way towards the Sunshine State, but the storm, which had weakened before making landfall, delivered less damage than many feared. Initially projected to cause widespread devastation, the hurricane saw its winds slow and intensity decrease in the final hours before hitting the coast.
The storm, with a barometric pressure of approximately 950 millibars, left behind downed trees, scattered debris, and power outages, but it was nowhere near the catastrophe that some had anticipated.
Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration has been at the forefront of recovery efforts. His office, working tirelessly, pre-staged power restoration teams, coordinated disaster relief services, and ensured resources were distributed to the most affected areas.
As a result, many Floridians saw quicker recovery times, with power restored in record speed in several regions. The governor’s proactive approach to emergency management has drawn praise for its efficiency and foresight, minimizing the economic fallout from the storm.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mocked a reporter during a press conference on Thursday for suggesting that global warming was responsible for the recent series of extreme weather events that have hit the state…
“The most powerful hurricane on record since the 1850s in the state of Florida occurred in the 1930s, the Labor Day Hurricane, barometric pressure on that was 892 millibars,” he continued. “It totally wiped out the Keys. We’ve never seen anything like it, and that remains head and shoulders above any powerful hurricane that we’ve ever had in the state of Florida.” [Source: Daily Wire]
While Milton may have been less destructive than forecasted, it still reignited debates around climate change and its alleged role in recent weather events. Governor DeSantis, never one to shy away from confrontation, addressed this head-on during a recent press conference.
When a reporter suggested that global warming was to blame for the recent hurricanes and tornadoes, DeSantis was quick to push back.
Mocking the idea that today’s storms are something new or unique, DeSantis laid out a historical perspective that left no room for speculation. “I think you can go back and find tornadoes for all of human history,” he said, noting that Hurricane Milton was not nearly as powerful as the most significant storms in Florida’s long, hurricane-riddled past.
DeSantis cited historical data, pointing out that 27 hurricanes in the state’s history had lower barometric pressure than Milton, many of which occurred long before industrialization was even a factor.
The governor emphasized that while storms may seem more damaging today, that’s largely because Florida’s population has ballooned to 23 million people, making any impact potentially more destructive.
But he was quick to add that his administration’s innovations, like pre-staging power assets, have helped mitigate the fallout.
DeSantis’ message was clear: extreme weather is not a modern invention. He reminded the audience of the 1930s Labor Day Hurricane, which wiped out the Florida Keys with a barometric pressure of 892 millibars, far surpassing Milton’s intensity.
He also recalled the tragic Okeechobee hurricane of 1928, which claimed over 4,000 lives, further underscoring the historical context.
In DeSantis’ view, it’s not about blaming climate change for every storm that comes our way. Instead, it’s about preparing Florida to handle whatever comes next.
With modern technology and a forward-thinking government, Florida is in a better position to recover from these natural events than ever before. His administration’s focus remains on action, not alarmism.
“We never did the pre-staging of power assets until I became governor,” DeSantis remarked, taking credit for reducing post-hurricane recovery times.
He took the opportunity to highlight his office’s proactive stance, underscoring the importance of quick response times and the economic benefits of restoring power to residents as soon as possible.
Author: Bo Dogan
