Hurricane Milton strengthens to Category 5 storm, threatening further devastation to Florida Two weeks after Hurricane Helene plowed through the southeast of the United States, Floridians rushed to secure their homes and leave as Hurricane Milton was again upgraded to a Category 5 storm on Tuesday with the potential of doubling Helene's "storm surge". US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris turned the crisis into political talking points, with the latter spreading false claims about the White House's misuse of emergency funds.