Click for the latest from The Hill{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story  Why Hurricane Milton became so intense so fast Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday in the Tampa, Fla., region after undergoing a rapid intensification this week that saw it become the third-fastest storm on record to reach Category 5 status, the most extreme classification on the hurricane scale.  © AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell Less than two weeks earlier, Hurricane Helene escalated in a similarly short time span in the Gulf of Mexico before ravaging the southeastern U.S.  The warming climate has been a large factor in these storms’ high intensity, as well as the pace of their intensification — and if temperatures continue to rise, future storms could gain strength faster than the communities in their path can prepare for them.  “There are a number of metrics by which both of these storms are either the most intense or most rapidly intensifying storm we’ve seen in this region,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles who researches the dynamics of extreme weather events.  In Helene’s case, Swain said, that meant an unprecedented storm surge and inland amount of rainfall, much of which had its most dramatic effect on western North Carolina. In Milton’s, he noted the storm strengthened to Category 5 “almost literally overnight.” While climate change does not appear to be increasing the overall frequency of storms, warming oceans are turbocharging their intensity, said Andra Garner, an associate professor in the department of environmental science at Rowan University. “What we’ve seen in recent years is our ocean waters are warmer than usual, including the Gulf [of Mexico], where we’ve seen Milton really explode in intensity the last few days,” Garner told The Hill. “When we warm the planet with human-caused greenhouse gases, a lot of that excess warmth — about 90 percent of it — goes into the oceans." Read more at TheHill.com.  Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:  Federal authorities warn of scams, price gouging as Hurricane Milton threatens FloridaFederal agencies are warning of heightened risk of scams and price gouging efforts as Hurricane Milton nears Florida’s western coast.  Full Story  FEMA has enough money to respond to Hurricanes Helene and MiltonThe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not at risk of running out of money and being unable to support survivors in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, despite misinformation that has swirled in recent days.  Full Story  Florida officials make final warnings as Milton brings rain, wind: ‘This is going to be a knockout’ Florida officials say time is running out for residents to flee ahead of Hurricane Milton’s anticipated landfall Wednesday night, as they make their final evacuation warnings to locals near Tampa Bay and along the west coast of the peninsula.  Full Story  Helene spurs IV fluid shortage. Milton could make it worse Hospitals across the U.S. are feeling the impact of Hurricane Helene as experts warn of an imminent intravenous (IV) solution shortage due to the temporary shutdown of a facility in a North Carolina.  Full Story   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill:Hurricanes Milton, Helene underscore potentially devastating gaps in home insurance coverage Hurricanes Milton and Helene are exposing holes in the home insurance coverage that many Americans have leaned on for a sense of security in the face of natural disasters. Milton is currently headed … Full Story   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: EPA reaches historic $4.2 million settlement over 2019 South Philly refinery explosion and fire (WHYY)  Carbon removal no solution if world overshoots warming target, scientists say (Reuters)  What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Democrats start to hit the panic button Democrats’ nerves are at an all-time high.  Read more Susan Rice: Trump’s reported calls with Putin appear illegal  Former White House adviser and United Nations ambassador Susan Rice called out former President Trump over a report that he has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin at least seven times since leaving office, suggesting such calls would violate the Logan Act. Read more  You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? 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