SUMMARY: While Hurricane Milton impacts the Gulf, Tennessee continues to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helen, which has resulted in 15 fatalities. Governor Bill Lee has conducted multiple tours of the flood-damaged areas, addressing misinformation about responses. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who accompanied the governor, emphasized that the efforts involve coordinated communication between FEMA and local officials. A FEMA conference call recently provided guidance to county mayors, countering reports of supply confiscation. The Unicoi County Emergency Management team confirmed that donation sites are well-stocked with supplies for those affected by the disaster.

Senator Blackburn said that FEMA was in conversations with several Tennessee county mayors over the weekend.

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SUMMARY: Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying into a Category 5 storm as it approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast, particularly targeting the densely populated Tampa Bay area. The storm is exhibiting significant lightning activity in its eyewall. Although it is expected to weaken slightly before landfall, Milton poses a serious threat to an area still recovering from Hurricane Helen’s impact. Florida’s governor has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Tampa region, which hasn’t experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane in over a century. Traffic is heavy as thousands evacuate northward, creating a tense situation for those fleeing.

Several Florida counties are under mandatory evacuation orders before Milton makes landfall.

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SUMMARY: Storm damage has led to the shutdown of I-40 in Cooch County for over a week, impacting roughly 30,000 daily vehicles. Tennessee state leaders, including the governor, recently inspected the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helen, which has severed communities. Federal and state funding has been expedited for repairs, with construction crews already at work to restore traffic flow on this crucial highway. While progress is underway, additional repairs are needed on the North Carolina side, with no specified timeline for completion, indicating it may take months before full connectivity is restored.

According to officials, the North Carolina side of I-40 will not be ready for months.

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