WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden promised Monday that the federal government would facilitate people across the Southeast recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, and said he expected to ask Congress for emergency funding in the coming weeks.
“I am here to tell every survivor in the affected areas that we will be there with you as long as it takes,” Biden said in brief remarks delivered in the White House’s Roosevelt Room.
Biden has said he plans to travel to North Carolina later this week once his cavalry and other presidential travel requirements get in the way. recovery efforts.
“I am committed to going to the affected areas as soon as possible, but I have been told that if I did so now it would cause disruption,” Biden said. “We will not do so at the risk of diverting or delaying any resources needed to deal with the crisis.”
Biden said he did not know how much money his administration would request from Congress for recovery efforts, but did not rule out asking lawmakers to return to Washington before the end of the six-week election recess on November 12. Emergency declarations were issued by Biden to affected countries, enabling disaster relief.
Helene, which is on track to become one of the deadliest hurricanes in the country’s history, made landfall in Florida last week and left a trail of damage and devastation in its wake. Associated Press reported The death toll rose to at least 107 on Monday, with 30 reported in North Carolina counties including Asheville.
These were people from all over the Southeast, including Georgia, South Carolina, western North Carolina, and eastern Tennessee hit by some of the worst flooding and wind damage.
Many communities are completely destroyed and lack access to spotless drinking water, functioning grocery stores, electricity and cell phone service.
Roads and bridges that should have allowed residents to get supplies or stay overnight with friends or family were completely destroyed by the hurricane, leaving many people without necessities.
The high water also destroyed many people’s homes and vehicles, further complicating recovery efforts across the region, but especially in rural areas where people often live far from the city.
Senators appeal for facilitate
North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis posted this on social media on Sunday afternoon condition desperately needs facilitate.
“Entire communities in western North Carolina are without power or cell service and are at serious risk of flooding,” Tillis wrote. “First responders are doing the best they can with what they have, but the devastation is unfathomable. WNC needs all the facilitate it can get, and it needs it now.
North Carolina Republican Sen. Ted Budd issued a written statement Saturday after a telephone call with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the North Carolina Emergency Management Board, the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross.
“It is clear that the damage in western North Carolina is catastrophic,” Budd wrote. “There is no doubt that the road to economic recovery will be long and difficult, but we will marshal all available resources to help the region, including public, private and charitable resources. We’re all in this together.”
Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff released a statement Sunday saying he had investigated storm damage and spoken with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
The statement said Ossoff “discussed the importance of providing Georgians with the full range of recovery resources and programs that will be available once the state completes its damage assessment.”
Florida Republican Kat Cammack he said on C-SPAN on Monday that the hurricane not only destroyed homes and businesses, but also destroyed farms throughout the region.
“The damage to agriculture there is enormous,” Cammack said. “They saw winds of almost 100 miles per hour. So we’re looking at catastrophic losses both inland and on the coast. It’s truly devastating.”
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