President Biden Surveys Hurricane Damage in Florida
President Joe Biden recently visited a home in Florida that was damaged by a fallen tree due to Hurricane Idalia. Expressing gratitude, he stated that it was “but for the grace of God” that the damage wasn’t worse.
During his visit to Live Oak, Florida, Biden mentioned that the area hadn’t experienced winds of such strength in a century. He expressed hope that such a catastrophic event would not occur again for another hundred years.
Accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, the President traveled to Florida to assess the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia and meet with local residents and recovery workers. He assured the public that he had directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide all possible assistance in the rebuilding process.
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 3 storm, resulting in widespread power outages and flooding. To address the urgent need for funds, the White House has urged Congress to allocate $16 billion to replenish FEMA’s disaster relief fund, which is projected to be depleted by the first half of September. Biden reiterated this appeal during his visit and called on both Democrats and Republicans to take action.
Biden initially intended to meet with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, with whom he has been in frequent contact since the hurricane struck. However, due to security concerns, the governor’s office announced that the meeting would not take place. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell confirmed that the location for Biden’s visit had been agreed upon by both the White House and the governor’s office without any prior security concerns being raised.
Despite their political differences, Biden acknowledged DeSantis’ efforts in managing the storm and praised his proactive approach. The President emphasized the importance of FEMA’s timely response and expressed his belief that Americans across the country rely on the agency during times of crisis.