WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The Southeast is bracing for Hurricane Milton, a rapidly strengthening storm that is forecast to bring dangerous conditions to Florida this week. Federal leaders say they are preparing for it to hit while also continuing recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene.  FEMA Director of Public Affairs Jaclyn Rothenberg warns that Hurricane Milton is a major threat.  "People need to take this storm seriously. Hurricane Milton is expected to be a very intense storm," Rothenberg said.  The Biden administration said Monday that it is coordinating national preparation efforts.  "We've been in touch with state and local officials in Florida, and we're going to ensure that we meet in advance what their needs are going to be,"" White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.  FEMA says it already has teams on the ground in Florida, including search and rescue workers. President Biden also approved an emergency disaster declaration to the region ahead of the storm's landfall.  "We have tons of commodities between food and water already staged in the tens of millions ready to go to support the state should they need it," Rothenberg said.  Federal leaders are also wrapped up in recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. That storm hit less than two weeks ago, leaving behind a trail of devastation.  "FEMA is ready and able to respond to both the ongoing response and recovery efforts in North Carolina specific to Helene, as well as other states, in addition to what's coming with Milton," Rothenberg said.  The Biden administration says it is also trying to debunk rumors about the storm response. Specifically saying it's not true that FEMA funding is running out, because it was used for other federal projects.  "No money is being diverted from response needs. That's the fact," Jean-Pierre said.  Rothenberg says there is no concern that FEMA won't have money to address Hurricane Milton.  "We have enough funding to respond to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton," Rothenberg said.  Though in the future she says Congress may need to approve more funds.  "It is possible that in the next few months that we'll have to ask for more support as we go into those longer-term recovery projects," Rothenberg said.