Hurricane 'Milton': At least 16 killed as questions loom about victim assistance funding

Hurricane Milton left at least 16 dead as it passed through Florida. One of the latest victims is a woman in her 70s who was killed by a falling branch in Tampa, according to local police. The tornadoes caused by the hurricane have so far claimed another 11 lives.

While the death toll continues to be assessed, the number is expected to continue to grow. Rescue operations are still underway and officials are continuing to analyze the damage. Although he urged people to remain cautious, Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the impact had been less than expected, thanks in part to the hurricane losing strength just before making landfall.

Milton made landfall Wednesday on the state's west coast, entering through Siesta Key as a category three hurricane. Hours later it was downgraded to a category one as it crossed the state. On Thursday it moved out over the Atlantic, leaving, in addition to the west, flooding in central cities, such as Orlando, and in the east, such as Daytona and Saint Augustine.

Two million homes were without power early Friday, with Pinellas, Hillsborough, Hardee and Highlands counties the hardest hit throughout the west and west-central of the Sunshine State.

Beware of scammers!

Authorities have issued warnings of possible scams, especially from fake repairmen offering home repairs. To avoid them, they recommend hiring only licensed and insured contractors, asking for their details and proof of insurance, as well as signing a written contract explaining all the work to be done.

They also advise caution when donating to victims. All charities are listed on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Check-A-Charity website.

Looting is also a concern. DeSantis spoke out about those intending to target homes or supermarkets: "I warn them, don't do it. If they loot, they will be held accountable."

Doubts about aid funding

President Joe Biden argued Thursday that members of Congress should "move as rapidly as they can, particularly on the most immediate need, which is small business." He saide that the Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) requires extra funding, not the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

However, the heads of both agencies are concerned about budget shortfalls. The first was Homeland Security Secretary Alexander Mayorkas, head of FEMA, who had warned that they had enough money to cope with Hurricane Helene but it would not be enough to get through the rest of hurricane season. The White House later said that there were enough funds for Helene and Milton.

Late Thursday, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman informed Congress that in just a few days, the budget for providing low-interest loans for hurricane victims would be zeroed out.

"Homeowners will be unable to access low-interest rate loans to replace their personal property damaged in a storm," she said in a statement reported by The Washington Post. "Small businesses will be unable to access SBA funding to replace damaged equipment or inventory and cover economic injury from business disruption."

Guzman called on congressmen to urgently take action on the matter, interrupting their recess to allocate more funds to it. The claim, however, has been met with mixed reviews by lawmakers.

"Congress will act again upon its return in November to address funding needs and ensure those impacted receive the necessary resources," a spokeswoman for Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives, told Politico. Late last month, the House released $20.3 billion for these purposes.

"Until the Administration conducts an assessment, any congressional action will be premature," Johnson added. The decision seems to be made. Congress will not meet again until after the 2024 presidential election.