President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will each head to the Southeast on Wednesday to survey injury wrought by Hurricane Helene, which to this point is confirmed to have killed 166 individuals.
The president stated Tuesday that the price of the huge storm may stretch into the billions of {dollars}. “We’ve got to leap begin this restoration course of,” Biden stated. “Persons are scared to dying. That is pressing.”
Biden’s scheduled go to to North Carolina — which is predicted to be a pivotal battleground state in subsequent month’s presidential election — and South Carolina will embrace an aerial tour of Asheville in western North Carolina, which was one of many area’s worst hit areas.
“I’ve ensured my journey won’t disrupt the continued response,” Biden stated in a publish to X. “I plan to journey to Georgia and Florida as quickly as attainable.”
Len Frisbee dumps a wheelbarrow of grime as he helps with clear up within the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Oct. 1, 2024, in Sizzling Springs, N.C.
Jeff Roberson/AP
Harris will journey to Georgia, one other battleground state.
“The Vice President will even present updates on Federal actions which can be being taken to help emergency response and restoration efforts in Georgia and several other different states all through the southeast,” her workplace stated in a press release.
A whole lot of individuals stay unaccounted for following Helene’s passage. Greater than 150,000 households have registered for help with the Federal Emergency Administration Company, Frank Matranga — an company consultant — stated.
That quantity is predicted to extend within the coming days, Matranga stated. He famous that nearly 2 million ready-to-eat meals and greater than one million liters of water have been despatched to the hardest-hit areas.
Wednesday’s visits by Biden and Harris come shortly after former President Donald Trump traveled to devastated Valdosta, Georgia, to see Helene’s destruction firsthand.
President Joe Biden provides an replace on the Hurricane Helene response and restoration efforts on the White Home in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 30, 2024.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Trump additionally used the Monday go to to assault his Democratic opponents over their emergency response efforts.
“As you recognize, our nation is within the closing weeks of a hard-fought nationwide election,” Trump stated whereas in Valdosta.
“However in a time like this, when a disaster hits, when our fellow residents cry out in want, none of that issues. We’re not speaking about politics now. We’ve got to all get collectively and get this solved. We’d like numerous assist. They must have numerous assist down right here.”
Trump accused Biden and Harris of “being very nonresponsive,” he stated, claiming each had failed to talk to Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, although Kemp stated they’d.
Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump is pictured throughout a go to to Valdosta, Georgia, on Sept. 30, 2024 following the passage of Hurricane Helene.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photos
The president hit again on the criticism. “Let me get this straight — he is mendacity,” Biden stated throughout an Oval Workplace briefing with reporters, framing Trump’s remarks as “irresponsible.”
“I do not know why he does this, and the explanation I get so indignant about it — I do not care about what he says about me, I care what he communicates to the individuals which can be in want. He implies that we’re not doing the whole lot attainable. We’re. We’re.”
ABC Information’ Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report.
