As Hurricane Milton approaches, several companies are adjusting their operations and mobilizing to help the people of Florida. Duke Energy Florida, for example, increased the number of technicians to restore power after the storm, while airlines like Southwest, United and JetBlue canceled flights and closed airports like Tampa and Orlando.
1908 Brands donated five truckloads of disinfectant and wipes to help areas affected by flooding and mold. Retail has also been impacted, with Target and Kohl’s temporarily closing some of their stores.
Additionally, The Home Depot activated its emergency response center in Atlanta, ensuring support for stores and employees. Stores will remain open as long as it is safe to do so, with frequent updates for customers and associates.
Hurricane Milton, which is expected to hit the west coast of Florida, has already prompted more than a million people to evacuate, while Universal Studios in Orlando has also announced its temporary closure. Energy companies such as Kinder Morgan halted their pipeline operations to ensure safety during the storm.
In addition to emergency actions, companies in the cruise sector, such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival, are adjusting their routes and offering flexibility to passengers. The situation in Florida also caused President Joe Biden to postpone his trip to Germany and Angola to oversee the hurricane response.
Hurricane Milton is one of the most powerful ever recorded on the west coast of Florida. The Category 5 storm approaches with winds of 180 mph (approximately 290 km/h) and an expectation of catastrophic destruction. This hurricane is considered one of the greatest climate threats to the region in more than a century, with many places still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, which occurred less than two weeks ago.
