DeSantis Comments On Clean Up Efforts Following Milton

During a Thursday press conference, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to a reporter’s attempt to link Hurricane Milton to climate change by offering a brief history lesson on Florida’s long relationship with powerful hurricanes.

The reporter's question centered on how many storms in history have formed as rapidly as Hurricanes Helene and Milton, both of which have recently ravaged Florida. DeSantis’s response was quick to frame the current storm activity in historical context, reminding listeners that hurricanes are far from a new phenomenon in Florida.

DeSantis pointed to 2004, a particularly devastating year when Florida was hit repeatedly by hurricanes. “Most people remember 2004, where it seemed like you had them every other week,” he remarked. DeSantis also noted that Florida had a hurricane-free stretch from 2006 to 2016, reinforcing the point that hurricane activity can ebb and flow over time.

He went even further back, highlighting the 1940s, another era when Florida endured frequent storms. “There’s been times where we had a lot,” DeSantis added, saying this year’s season bore similarities to 2004.

In 2004 alone, nine tropical storms affected the U.S., with five of them slamming Florida in just six weeks, according to the National Weather Service. Two of these storms, Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, made landfall only two miles apart, a rare and brutal one-two punch within a span of three weeks. DeSantis’s point was clear: while Hurricanes Helene and Milton may feel unprecedented to some, Florida’s history is filled with periods of high hurricane activity.

While DeSantis focused on history, others have taken a different angle. Prominent figures like Bill Nye and Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have pointed to climate change as a major factor in the increasing intensity and frequency of storms like Helene and Milton. The rise in global temperatures, they argue, is contributing to the worsening impact of hurricanes.

Hurricane Milton, which made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm, brought with it sustained winds of 120 mph, devastating much of Florida’s Gulf Coast. The storm caused mass flooding in the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg areas, and over 3 million people are currently without power. Tragically, at least ten lives have been lost, with five deaths confirmed in St. Lucie County alone. These numbers are still rising as authorities assess the full impact.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Helene, which hit just weeks earlier, had already wreaked havoc across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The death toll from Helene continues to climb, with recent reports confirming at least 227 fatalities. The destruction left in its wake has led to ongoing search and rescue efforts in many communities, according to The Associated Press.