Hurricane Milton updates: 16 dead across Florida in storm's aftermath

Milton could be one of Florida’s worst storms in 100 years, President Joe Biden warned while addressing the media on Tuesday.

Milton could not only enter Florida’s west coast as a hurricane but could still be hurricane-strength by the time it leaves Florida’s east coast, he said.

If you are under evacuation orders, leave now, Biden urged, stressing that it’s "a matter of life and death."

Biden has postponed his travel to Germany and Angola due to the hurricane. He was slated to leave on Thursday.

While preparing for Milton, the government is still "surging resources" in states impacted by Hurricane Helene, he said.

Biden said he spoke to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday.

"He said he's got all that he needs," Biden said, adding that he gave the governor his "personal phone number to call."

Biden also slammed individuals spreading misinformation around FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene, calling it "un-American."

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Biden delivers remarks on federal preparation for Hurricane Milton

The president said that while preparing for Milton, the federal government is still "surging resources" in states impacted by Hurricane Helene.

ABCNews.com

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa is moving animals to the facility’s highest level ahead of Hurricane Milton.

During Hurricane Helene, the aquarium took on 3 feet of water along the wharf, marking the first time in the aquarium’s 30 years that water breached the wharf. With a bigger storm surge forecast for Milton, aquarium officials are expecting the first floor to take on water.

Usually aquarium staff members will stay with the animals to ride out a Category 1 or 2 hurricane. But because of the severity of Milton, all staff members will evacuate mid-day Wednesday and plan to return on

Hurricane warnings are in effect in Tampa, Fort Myers and Orlando as Hurricane Milton closes in.

Hurricane and storm surge warnings have now also been issued for parts of Florida’s east coast, including Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral and Melbourne.

-ABC News’ Max Golembo

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday urged Floridians to "use today as your day to finalize and execute the plan that is going to protect you and your family" from Hurricane Milton.

Landfall is expected around 11 p.m. Wednesday and the Tampa Bay area is forecast to face a record-breaking storm surge of 10 to 15 feet.

About 1,200 truckloads of debris left by Hurricane Helene have been removed over the last 24 hours, and that removal will continue until it’s no longer safe to do so, DeSantis said.

The governor said 37,000 linemen are either in Florida or on the way to help with power outages.

Twenty-seven fuel trucks were escorted by Florida Highway Patrol overnight to help gas stations running out of fuel, he said.

-ABC News’ Darren Reynolds