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October 7, 2024

Florida Orders Evacuations Ahead of Hurricane Milton as Helene Death Toll Reaches 232
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Residents of Florida are once again evacuating their homes as Hurricane
Milton barrels toward the state's Gulf Coast, threatening major storm
surges and widespread destruction around Tampa Bay and other areas.
Milton is projected to make landfall by midweek as a Category 3 storm.
This comes as the death toll from Hurricane Helene climbed to 232 people
across six states.

Donald Trump has seized on the disaster to push misinformation about the
Biden-Harris administration on the campaign trail, including the lies
that federal authorities are denying help to Republicans in the stricken
areas and that federal funds are being diverted from recovery efforts to
house immigrants. Federal and local officials have taken to the airwaves
to refute Trump's "dangerous narrative." This is Tennessee Republican
Governor Bill Lee.

Gov. Bill Lee: "There's no confiscation of supplies or of products
coming in by FEMA or TEMA. There's nothing but commitment to serving the
people in this state. And those who spread that kind of misinformation,
it's deeply unfortunate that that's happening."

Meanwhile, The Intercept reports prisoners in North Carolina were left
in their cells without running water or power for nearly a week, cut off
from communication with the outside world and forced to keep their waste
in plastic bags in their cells.


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