WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s administration warned Floridians on Saturday that the time to prepare for the next hurricane is now.

The warning followed the National Hurricane Center’s announcement that Tropical Depression 14 had strengthened into Tropical Storm Milton, which was forecast to become a strong hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency warned tropical storm conditions may affect areas of Florida late this weekend and into the middle of next week, and Milton may cause storm surge and heavy rainfall affecting areas recovering from hurricanes Helene and Debby.

According to a FEMA spokesperson, the agency has hundreds of staff “on the ground in Florida supporting Helene recovery and coordinating with the state to prepare people for the next storm” since Milton “could reach the west coast of Florida mid-week as a major hurricane.”

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